The changes occurred slowly in times when the information gathered by the older people of the group was very useful when conflicts, problems or concerns arose. The young people came to consult them and often the last word was that of the old.

Today, when changes are constantly driving us through one after the other at full speed, old people are hurting us. They say they cannot help us in the avatars of “modern” life. They are barely able to use the bank's ATM, and when for the eleventh time they change the order of the television channels, they have to ask their grandchildren for help.

The family model has changed radically. In how many camps, for good, the ancient hierarchical and patriarchal families were prisons of the free spirits. What we have lost in other areas, however, has left us without resources.

The extended family, which brought together three generations, cousins, small cousins and neighbors, offered us a comprehensive network of protection. There were fellow travellers who had never let us down to face the ups and downs of life. However, in the Western societies of the 21st century, in which the individual has become the center, this individual, often, finds himself alone in the face of many blows of wind.

The nuclear family and individualism have been the great dominators of history. Although this has opened several doors, it has also closed many of the windows. Each nuclear or “single” family needs its own head; a nest that will be borrowed for 35 years. This expensive nest is a closed world, increasingly closed. Every resident wants his or her corner: his or her TV, computer, intangible space. As the motto of a well-known multinational says: “an independent republic”.

The houses that once had the doors open, now converted into strengths, bother us the “outsiders”. Those outsiders are our elders.

Older people bother us in the leisure we don't have but it's insufficient; they bother us because of health problems; they bother us because they ask us to pamper; because they need our time; because they need us.

And we, we, have dodged them. We want the old people out of our lives, and they're getting evicted in the residences.

The social network failed, and to fill the gap, there was a thoughtful predator. “Market”. It is undeniable that the parties managing the main official bodies have helped the “Mecado” to find the new fishery. It is not all our fault, of course.

Once we've broken into the extended family network, we haven't stitched alternative networks. We need these networks that are complemented by nearby neighbours and neighbours and that complement the work of the public services that the institutions should offer. Leaving care work at the expense of precarious workers is detrimental to society as a whole. Because all precarious work is detrimental to society.

K. Classical economist Polanyi wrote that our social system marketed three heritage of traditional cultures: land, work and money. In these times of savage capitalism, commercialization has come to an end. In the 21st century, in rich societies, old people have become fairgrounds.

Old couples pay their house, saving a few salaries, and in most cases they pay their retirement pay, more or less, monthly. Therefore, unlike many young people, they have purchasing power. These assets are tempting for those who want to privatise public services. Old age is a big business.

In the 19th century, land, money and work were put on sale. XXI.ean everything, also our old age.

In this context, it is not surprising that the last strike of the unions is that of the workers of the residences. In the strike, there is a wage gap; the feminization of the works, the ratios and many other demands that are on the table. But also, there is something else at stake: the social model, dehumanization, the transformation of the human being into a product.

Patxi Azparren Olaizola

Graduate in social and cultural anthropology