Should Morocco adopt alternative approaches to elderly care?

1. Demographic projections and limitations of informal care
2. The economic, social, and cultural impact of ageing
3. Proposals for a national strategy on ageing

Morocco faces a double structural challenge: traditional family-based care for elderly people is eroding due to rapid urbanisation, youth emigration, and the gradual entry of women into the labour market. At the same time, its ageing population is growing rapidly, running the risk of social isolation and unaddressed healthcare needs in the absence of formal care alternatives.

Healthy older adults contribute immense value as preservers of culture, civic leaders, and community builders. This role is evident among Amazigh grandmothers, who safeguard their indigenous way of life, and Jewish elderly residents, who maintain Morocco’s Sephardic heritage in restored synagogues and care homes. The current underinvestment in formal care systems heightens this group’s vulnerability rather than harnessing its full potential.

Demographic projections and limitations of informal care

According to projections published by the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the Moroccan population over 60 will reach 5.8 million by 2030 (15.4% of the total population), driven by rising life expectancy and declining birth rates. The majority of older Moroccans reside in conventional homes. However, informal caregivers frequently lack the training and resources required to satisfy their safety needs, medical requirements, and accessibility.

Cultural and religious norms emphasising filial duty, compounded by high youth unemployment and household financial constraints, reinforce home care reliance. Although a stigma surrounding nursing homes persists, urban families are increasingly turning to these alternatives to navigate the demands of modern life.

Models such as Morocco’s Jewish elderly homes —supported by international organisations like the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)— demonstrate that formal care is compatible with cultural obligations. These facilities provide subsidised housing, medical supervision, and religious programming that enable safe ageing while preserving traditions such as Shabbat observance.

The economic, social, and cultural impact of ageing

Currently, retirement often imposes an economic burden, as only 16% of older Moroccans receive a pension from the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) or equivalent public schemes. Across the Arab region, caregiving remains overwhelmingly family-based and unpaid, delivered primarily by women under a traditional social model that takes this dedication for granted. However, isolation accelerates physical and cognitive decline. Among the urban middle class, there is growing acceptance of formal care solutions to improve medical oversight and quality of life for elderly relatives.

From a cultural and civic perspective, older adults perform a vital function:

• Cultural transmission: In Amazigh communities, grandmothers preserve the Awal language, connections to the Akkal land, and Ddham cultural values amidst pressures from climate change and rural-to-urban migration.

• Multicultural historical memory: The Moroccan Jewish community has dwindled from 300,000 to around 2,000 today, with a very high proportion of elderly members. Older residents represent the last living bridge to the country’s pluralistic past. State efforts coordinated by the Government of Morocco to restore 167 cemeteries, synagogues, and Jewish quarters reinforce their role as guardians of memory.

• Democratic engagement: In general elections, citizens over 60 registered a voter turnout rate in the electoral roll managed by the Ministry of the Interior of Morocco standing at 94.4%, confirming their steadfast commitment to the nation’s political life and institutions.

Proposals for a national strategy on ageing

To address this challenge sustainably, Morocco requires a national strategy spearheaded by entities such as the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, structured around the following pillars:

1. Community centre network: Establishing daycare centres and small-scale community care homes in cities such as Casablanca and Fez to offer medical care, physiotherapy, and social connections, drawing inspiration from JDC philanthropic models.

2. Youth training and employment: Creating vocational training programmes for unemployed youth as certified caregivers, turning care demand into a pathway for formal employment.

3. Financial and urban reform: Expanding pension coverage and healthcare access to informal sector workers, introducing long-term care insurance, and adopting inclusive urban design and accessible infrastructure.

4. Awareness and education: Embedding respect for the elderly within curricula managed by the Ministry of National Education and encouraging youth volunteering to reduce nursing home stigma and foster intergenerational cohesion.

Transforming elderly care into a shared responsibility between the State, civil society, and the private sector will safeguard social welfare and preserve the rich cultural and multicultural heritage that defines Morocco.