Aging and Generations in Cuba: Unravelling the Care Crisis

Destremau-Zeitz examines the crisis of eldercare in Cuba, highlighting intergenerational households' interdependency and solidarity in response to complex daily life and economic challenges. She argues that Cuba faces a crisis of social reproduction specific to (ex)socialist countries but with lessons for developed nations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Cuba is facing a crisis of eldercare due to advanced demographic aging, according to a twelve-year ethnographic study in Havana and rural areas. Destremau-Zeitz shows how intergenerational households enact interdependency and solidarity in response to the complexities of daily life and a protracted economic crisis. Beyond the multidimensional crisis of care, the author argues that Cuba is facing a crisis of social reproduction that appears specific to (ex)socialist countries but holds lessons for many of the world's developed nations as well.

The book examines the current crisis of eldercare in Cuba, underpinned by advanced demographic aging. Destremau-Zeitz highlights how intergenerational households in Cuba enact interdependency and solidarity in response to the complexities of daily life and a protracted economic crisis. Beyond the multidimensional crisis of care, the author argues that Cuba is facing a crisis of social reproduction that appears specific to (ex)socialist countries but holds lessons for many of the world's developed nations as well.

The book is based on a twelve-year ethnographic study in Havana and rural areas of Cuba. Destremau-Zeitz's approach is characterized by great humanity and a lively narrative, which makes the book engaging and accessible to a wide audience.

The author argues that intergenerational households in Cuba enact interdependency and solidarity in response to the many complexities of daily life and a protracted economic crisis. This interdependency and solidarity are essential for the survival of many older people in Cuba, who face significant challenges in accessing healthcare, social services, and other essential resources.

Beyond the multidimensional crisis of care, the author argues that Cuba is facing a crisis of social reproduction that appears specific to (ex)socialist countries but holds lessons for many of the world's developed nations as well. This crisis is characterized by a decline in fertility rates, an aging population, and a lack of economic opportunities for young people.

The author suggests that Cuba's experience with social reproduction can provide valuable insights for other countries facing similar challenges. For example, Cuba's emphasis on community-based care and social services can be a model for other countries looking to improve their healthcare systems and social welfare programs.

In conclusion, the book examines the current crisis of eldercare in Cuba, underpinned by advanced demographic aging. Destremau-Zeitz's approach is characterized by great humanity and a lively narrative, which makes the book engaging and accessible to a wide audience. The author argues that intergenerational households in Cuba enact interdependency and solidarity in response to the complexities of daily life and a protracted economic crisis, and that Cuba is facing a crisis of social reproduction that appears specific to (ex)socialist countries but holds lessons for many of the world's developed nations as well.

Weight: 536g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666904635