Leonada Gelato Machena in her one-room apartment. Cienfuegos, Cuba.

Leonada shared with me that she loved sitting with friends in the local park, but now, when some of them are already gone she rather stays in the house. She keeps saying that "getting older" does not fit her character at all.

Moria Antonia Gomez's room. Cienfuegos, Cuba.

Tereza Boniza in her house. Cienfuegos, Cuba.

On the wall (left) a picture of her mother when she was young. "I think that staying optimistic is good for you," she told me. "But lately, I find that difficult."

Colorful objects pasted on a wall in community's one-room apartment. Cienfuegos, Cuba.
When a tenant dies, the local government houses another tenant in the apartment and the walls painted over.

Delphin Fernadez, in his small hut, surrounded by images of Lenin and studies of Marx. Cienfuegos, Cuba.

Although he retired a long time ago, Delphin made sure to wear his uniform from work at the customs, on a daily basis and surrounded himself with old items of socialism. People in the community (who refer to him as "Capitan") provide him with food or soap, and in return, he shared stories about the times that "even the wars were better" as he said. In December 2016, he went under a stork and passed away.

Havinyo Agiar's image is reflected through a broken mirror in his one room apartment, Cienfuegos, Cuba

Onelia Katyo, as she watches the street through her apartment's door. Cienfuegos, Cuba.
With almost no light or air-conditioning, most doors in the small community remain open throughout the day, and anyone is passing by Onelia’s door is her potential friend: a passing neighbor, children on his or her way to nearby school, even a stray cat.

Onelia Katyo's one room apartment. Cienfuegos, Cuba.

Most of the community's elders are living alone. Therefore, when they are passing away in their houses, they are usually by themselves.

Ilama Bural Morachon, in her house. Cienfuegos, Cuba.
Disabled, after she slipped and broke her arm and shoulder, she must have assistance for almost everyday action. "The body betrays you. It is a terrible feeling". She told me

Berta walking down the corridor of the elderly's apartment complex.
Cienfuegos, Cuba.