Two Worlds of Aging: A Tale of Two Seniors

In the small town of Tequila, Mexico, 72-year-old Don Manuel rises with the sun. His home is modest—bare concrete walls, a tin roof, and a small garden where he grows herbs and vegetables. A retired farmer, Don Manuel relies on a modest pension provided by the Mexican government through the Pensión para el Bienestar de las Personas Adultas Mayores, a social pension for adults over 65. It gives him about 4,800 pesos every two months, roughly $280 USD. Though grateful, he knows it’s barely enough to cover his food, medicine, and utilities.

Don Manuel doesn’t have a private health plan. He used to rely on Mexico’s Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), but long waits and limited resources made care difficult. Now he visits a public clinic where medicine is often out of stock. His daughter occasionally helps, but she has her own children to care for. For many elderly in Mexico, family is the true safety net. Government support exists but is thinly stretched across a population of millions who worked informally and never contributed to social security.

Meanwhile, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, 75-year-old Margaret lives in a quiet suburb of Vancouver. A retired schoolteacher, she enjoys her morning walks, attends local book clubs, and meets friends for coffee. Every month, she receives income from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS). For those with low income like herself, there’s also the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), which ensures she doesn’t fall below the poverty line. Her total monthly income hovers around $1,800 CAD, modest but enough to live with dignity.

Health care is never far from Margaret’s mind, but in Canada, she benefits from a universal health care system. Doctor visits, hospital stays, and many prescription drugs are covered or heavily subsidized. Through programs like PharmaCare, and senior-specific benefits, she doesn’t worry about going broke due to illness. If needed, the government also provides home care services, subsidized housing for seniors, and tax credits for accessibility renovations.

But Margaret knows her experience isn’t universal. Indigenous elders, for example, still face barriers to health care and live with the intergenerational trauma of colonialism. In rural areas, services are more limited. Yet the government regularly funds studies, community programs, and outreach efforts to improve the quality of life for all seniors.

Back in Mexico, Don Manuel knows of no such programs for aging in place. Most elderly live with extended family or alone. Elder abuse and neglect are growing concerns, and though laws exist, enforcement is inconsistent. However, the Mexican government has recently made efforts to improve things—raising pension payments, supporting community kitchens for the elderly, and building cultural centers for senior engagement. Still, the country struggles with limited tax revenues and an aging population that’s outpacing economic growth.

Don Manuel often watches Canadian documentaries on his old TV. He’s amazed to see government-subsidized retirement homes, social workers checking in on elderly citizens, and local councils organizing group activities for seniors. “They treat old people with respect,” he says.

And yet, Margaret watches reports of long-term care home scandals in Canada and feels disheartened. She knows Canada is far from perfect, especially for those who are isolated or poor.

Two countries, two seniors—each with a different fate shaped by history, policy, and public will. While Canada offers a stronger safety net built on a culture of universalism, Mexico is still building its foundation, trying to balance tradition with the demands of a modern aging society. But both Don Manuel and Margaret hope for the same thing: dignity, care, and a community that remembers them not as burdens, but as elders who once built the world others now live in.

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