The Cuban content creator Robert Evangelista shared an emotional video on TikTok in which, visibly affected and on the verge of tears, brought attention to the abandonment faced by the elderly in Cuba, many of whom are forced to beg, scavenge for food in the trash, or survive on pensions that barely suffice to meet their most basic needs.
"What they have in this country regarding the elderly is a complete abuse from start to finish," said Evangelista, who recounted the encounter that sparked his outrage: an elderly woman approached his car while he was waiting at a stoplight to ask for money.
"The way the lady asked me, I know she's not a street person; she's a woman who doesn't have any money, a person who can't make it anymore and went out to the street to ask for alms," said the influencer, who claimed he gave her all the Cuban money he had on him.
With a trembling voice, Evangelista questioned the conditions in which thousands of retirees on the island survive. "With 1,500 pesos, you can't even afford a bottle of oil, and that's no secret to anyone," he lamented.
He also criticized the difficulties many elderly individuals face in receiving their pensions through electronic transfers, especially those who are not familiar with digital technologies.
"How are you going to pay an elderly person by transfer if they don’t know how to use a phone? That’s abuse," he stated.
His criticisms extended to the treatment received by elderly individuals in some hospital facilities. The content creator recounted that during a visit to a hospital, he witnessed an elderly man being moved from one stretcher to another without receiving, according to his testimony, the appropriate care due to his age and being without an escort.
"You can't leave an elderly gentleman who is feeling unwell in the corner just because he might not be able to provide a bag," she remarked, urging healthcare professionals not to lose their sensitivity and humanity towards older patients.
Evangelista also questioned the lack of social assistance for those aging without resources or family support. "Elderly people are dying in this country and no one cares. No one is able to speak about the senior citizen," he stated.
The video had accumulated nearly 44,000 views, over 7,900 likes, and 663 comments at the time the news was written.
The situation described by the influencer aligns with the testimonies of numerous Cuban seniors who have reported the challenges of aging on the island, where pensions are insufficient in light of the high cost of food, medications, and other essential products.
In September 2025, a partial increase in pensions came into effect, raising those that were between 2,473 and 3,999 pesos to up to 4,000 pesos monthly, while the lower amounts received a fixed increase of 1,528 pesos. However, these amounts are still insufficient to cover the basic expenses of an individual.
A survey by the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba, conducted among 506 retirees in five provinces, revealed that 99% of participants felt that their pension did not meet their needs for food, housing, and medication, while 90.7% continued to work after retirement in order to make ends meet.
According to figures from the National Office of Statistics and Information, 26.7% of the Cuban population was 60 years or older by the end of 2025. Demographic aging and emigration have worsened the difficulties faced by many older adults who live alone or lack family support.
The content creator, who has previously participated in initiatives to assist vulnerable families, concluded his message with a call for solidarity towards those who have dedicated a significant part of their lives to work and today face an old age marked by hardships.
"Let's help a little more the elderly person who needs it," he asked.
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