Vive La Libertad: A Walker Helps Maintain Her Independent Living

Ms. C.B. is a 79-year-old welfare recipient who lives alone in a fourth floor apartment in the center of Tangier. C.B was born in Tangier, and speaks Spanish. Her father had a small grocery story, and was considered to be a very important person in the community. She had 10 brothers and sisters, of which only two are living today (one brother is in Casablanca). All of C.B's grandparents were also from Tangier. Her grandfather, she recalls, was a small merchant.

She has a nephew in Casablanca who sends her $150 per month. C.B needs full-time home assistance, which JDC has arranged for her ($70 per month). The community, with JDC support, supplements her income with an additional $112 per month. This amount is higher than what a similar welfare recipient might receive, for example, in the Former Soviet Union. There are two principal reasons for this. First, local economic conditions differ here from other parts of the world. Second, welfare services in Morocco preceded JDC's entry into the Former Soviet Union. Welfare levels were already higher here.

C.B. also needed a walker to assist her in moving around her apartment. The walker was delivered to her during this home visit. Prior to receiving it, C.B. used to dangerously navigate her home by leaning onto unstable chairs.

C.B. is totally homebound, unable to leave her apartment even to visit the doctor. Notwithstanding those constraints, she much prefers to live independently rather than move into the Tangier Old Age Home, as she exclaimed, "Vive La Libertad!!" During Passover, since C.B. cannot attend a Seder, she listens to a specially prepared Pesach Seder audiocassette.