“You Have to Love This Job,” Home-Based Care in the Rivne Region

A phone call in the evening: “I fell down and can’t get home”. This is just one episode from the challenging work of Olha, a social assistant of the Ukrainian Red Cross. In the village of Uhiltsi, Rivne region, she cares for 86-year-old Oleksandr Mykytovych, a man with a unique destiny. Growing up as the seventh child in a poor family, he was able to become a musician and later mastered the art of painting. In the books, he is described as an original artist.  

“We have a friendly relationship; she helps me a lot and does her job well,” speaks Oleksandr Mykytovych warmly of his assistant, Olha, who takes care of him due to his health condition. 

Olha manages all household chores for the elderly man and responds promptly to any difficult situation whenever he calls.