Luci: Did you see that TV programme with homes for the elderly? It was awful. Wasn't it?

Maru: Why? Did they look sad or something?

Luci: Not exactly, but I think they would be happier living with their families.

Maru: I don't think that they are necessarily happier living with their families. Some of them want more independence, to feel they can still do things by themselves.

Luci: But they could still feel useful helping their families with the grandchildren, you know, telling them stories, using all their experience of life to bring them up..., helping their own sons or daughters. I'm always going to my grandparents to ask them things, and if they weren't living with us I couldn't.

Maru: But some of them, who studied, or worked in a firm, or whatever... maybe they would like to help young adults to set up businesses and that kind of thing. They can do more useful things than taking care or others...

Urpi: It sounds to me (if I can just get started on our project for a minute!) that here we've got two different visions of what means to be old. Luci, perhaps because of your Roma culture, you prefer all your family - not just the grandparents - to be closer.

Maru: Yeah but I also appreciate what older people do as well! Just because some walk slowly and do things slower it doesn't mean they are not useful to society anymore. Anyway, perhaps we ought to be more patient.

Urpi: In Peru, and actually I think generally in Latino culture, the family's also very very important. I think that, in the end, it all depends. Some older people still have a lot offer us, whether it's helping bring up grandchildren or giving business advice.

Luci: Yes. And, as you well know from the times I've moaned to you about them, I don't agree with my grandparents or parents all the time, but I still wouldn't want to be without them.

Urpi: It would be good, though, if they always had a proper choice about where to live though, don't you think?

Some people in the library: come on; don't speak as much, and as loud. Read and write!!