Elderly Demand Grows in Cancún’s Ciudad de la Alegría

Cancún, Q. Roo — Ciudad de la Alegría, a foundation in Cancún, provides care for various social groups through facilities called “homes,” with the highest demand consistently coming from its senior citizen division.

Paola Hidalgo, the foundation’s general director, reported that maintaining care for one elderly resident costs approximately 14,000 pesos per month. These expenses are not covered by the seniors themselves but through fundraising campaigns, sponsorships, community donations, and in-kind contributions, primarily food.

“An elderly resident does not pay this amount—they cannot afford it. We rely on campaigns, sponsors, public donations, and food contributions to sustain this support,” Hidalgo explained.

Currently, the home accommodates 35 seniors, though it has capacity for 50. However, the women’s section has reached full occupancy, prompting the organization to plan an expansion. The proposed project involves adapting a second floor to relocate male residents, thereby freeing up space on the first floor for at least eight women on the waiting list.

“The reality is that we have a waiting list, and elderly women are the most frequent applicants, but we lack space for them,” Hidalgo said. “Around eight women are waiting, but we cannot admit them at this time.”

Regarding admission procedures, Hidalgo clarified that the process is coordinated by the DIF (Integral Family Development system), which assesses whether an individual lacks family support or financial means. If eligible, they are referred to the home. However, if the senior has relatives, the foundation requires details on why the family seeks placement and conducts a socioeconomic study to determine possible monthly contributions.