“After Losing My Home and My Usual Life, I Had No Idea What to Do Next”: The Story of Olha Petrivna
“After losing my home and my usual life, I had no idea what to do next… How can a lonely elderly person survive in a world where you don’t even have your own corner? Then, a social helper from the Ukrainian Red Cross appeared in my life… I started to feel less helpless and even needed by someone…”
As a result of the hostilities, thousands of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes suddenly and flee to other cities or abroad. Lonely older individuals are particularly vulnerable in this national tragedy, including people like Olha Petrivna, a current beneficiary of the Ukrainian Red Cross Home-Based Care programme.
The 61-year-old woman lived alone with her cat in Avdiivka and could never have imagined that the insidious war would soon take away her home and her only furry friend. When the active shelling of residential buildings began, the evacuation was so hurried that Olha took only the clothes she was wearing and a carrier for her beloved pet. Suddenly, a powerful explosion occurred nearby, and her frightened cat bolted from its hiding place, disappearing into the grey smoke. There was no time or opportunity to search for him.
The bus carrying internally displaced persons (IDPs) arrived in Vinnytsia, where they were fortunate to settle in a modest room at a private hostel. Although the woman took in another cat, her heart still ached for her old friend. Later, she learned that the house where she had spent her best years was gone, along with the documents proving her ownership, as she hadn’t had time to take them with her, nor could she retrieve her archived records.
Olha’s already poor health has only worsened after these experiences. She now faces difficulties in moving and suffers from hypertension, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, and depression. The arrival of Natalia, a social helper from the Ukrainian Red Cross Home-Based Care programme, has been a ray of sunshine in Olha’s oppressive darkness. The caring assistant helps purchase medicines and food, prepares meals, cleans, and, most importantly, offers genuine sympathy and companionship.
For more information about the Ukrainian Red Cross Home-Based Care programme and the necessary contacts, please visit our official website or call our hotline at 0 800 332 656.