¿Y si Maricarmen Abascal fuera nuestra vecina? Lo que podemos hacer por los adultos mayores

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who lived at the same address for nearly 70 years, died on October 7 following an eviction from her home in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid. The Sindicato de Inquilinas reported her death after she was removed from her residence on September 23, 2026, and transferred to the Gregorio Marañón hospital.

The eviction resulted from a dispute over a rental contract originally signed by her father in 1956, which later passed to her mother and then to Abascal. The property company claimed the contract had expired, leading to a judicial resolution for her removal. Abascal had not failed to pay her rent.

Father Ramiro Magallanes, who leads the Pastoral del Adulto Mayor at the Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano, discussed ways to build communities that care for and include older people in response to the situation. The case highlights the need for neighbors to recognize the needs of the elderly and offer support before emergencies occur.