juntos (together)
snapshots from Chile
These are snapshots of a focus group I ran at El Centro Diurno para El Adulto Mayor (Adult Day Center), which offered interdisciplinary social and medical services for those aging with the least social support in Temuco. The center was designed especially to tackle health issues stemming from loneliness.
| 1 of 3-part series on this center |
Friends, 83 and 81 years old, who met at the Center a year ago. They check on each other over the weekend.
But here… changed my life. Yes. Here, it’s another thing [meaning, a whole other ball game]. After [living] with so much pain in my house, now I go home, but I go home to sleep, no more. She also lives alone [gestures to the woman on the left in photo].
This center, it has served me so much. I think we all would say the same, that this center is something marvelous for the older adult.
A couple, 89 and 91 years old, who attend together, are known for having recently celebrated their 50th anniversary.
We’re still so good together because the respect is never lost.
[Husband adding:] The main thing about marriage: maintain this respect. On both sides. Never let go of that trust. This is very valuable.
Now, I’m not sure if we’ll make it to celebrate 60 [years of marriage]. You never know.
Observing posture in two men, 72 and 80 years old, who have attended the center for a few months so far. On the left a carpenter, on the right a writer.
Photos taken by Grace Ellrodt with subjects’ consent.