To Grow, Live and Die Like a Plant | Show Description
In Belarus children born with cognitive disabilities and cerebral palsy are often abandoned by their families and placed in state psychiatric orphanages. They live a life of sorts in a permanent state of institutional neglect. When they reach 18, they can be moved to adult residential facilities where life continues much the same way, in isolation, with little stimulation, waiting out their lives until death. For the last two years I have documented the quality of life and care at three of these institutions. Nation-wide some 2,000 children and 12,000 adults are housed at 46 facilities. These are closed institutions with little accountability. Sometimes an employee, concerned about the lack of funding for necessary food and staff, will speak out, but such people risk dismissal.
Resident of the psycho-neurological residential care facility for the elderly and disabled #3 is sleeping in his room. May 24, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. Most of the people living in the orphanage were children, refused by their parents at birth. Most of them will remain here until their death.
Nursing assistant is changing diaper of a resident of the resident care facility. One of the residents is helping him. May 24, 2016, Minsk, Belarus.
Interior of the psycho-neurological residential care facility for the elderly and disabled #3. A nursing assistant moves a resident to her room. June 12, 2016, Minsk, Belarus.
Nursing assistant Gennady bears a pot of food during lunch at the psycho-neurological residential care facility for the elderly and disabled #3. May 24, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. Not all residents of the orphanage are autonomous and independent, which means that not everyone can eat without the help of a medic.
Nursing assistant feeds a resident of the psycho-neurological residential care facility for the elderly and disabled #3. June 12, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. Not all residents of the orphanage are autonomous and independent, which means that not everyone can eat without the help of a medic.
Nursing assistant Alexander washes the resident of the psycho-neurological residential care facility for the elderly and disabled #3. May 26, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. The work of a nurse with elderly people and people with disabilities is difficult and poorly paid. The quantity of nurses is always low in such institutions. In the 9th compartment of this residential care facility there are 2 nursing assistants for 37 people. With such a ratio, it is very difficult to provide timely care.
Doctors are trying to figure out minimum quantity of calories that the child need to stay alive. They want to buy enteral nutrition to support his life, as regular food is not suitable fo this child. The money for the food are collected on crowdfunding platform, as the state did’t allocated money for this. October 11, 2016, Minsk, Belarus.
Doctor of the orphanage for disabled children with special psychophysical development Alexey Momotov shows the patient Julia. Julia is 20 years old, but her weight is 11.5 kg. October 10, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. The doctor believes that the lack of weight in patients due to malnutrition. The state did not allocate funds for the purchase of enteral nutrition. Therefore, the doctor decided to bring the public attention to the problem. After numerous publications, the prosecutor's office began checking the expenditure of money in the orphanage. CEO of orphanage was fired. A year later, the doctor who drew public attention to the problem was dismissed too.
Patient of the orphanage for disabled children with special psychophysical development Artem. Artem's weight is 17 kilograms. And there should be about 70 kilograms in his age. October 10, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. According to the norms, every child of this age is supposed to eat 700 grams of food for lunch. The digestive system of such patients can not cope with this volume. Therefore, they need a high-calorie diet, which is not procured.
Nurse communicates with one of the children that lives in the orphanage for disabled children with special psychophysical development. October 10, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. Most of the time in the orphanage, the children are alone with themselves. At night in a boarding school, one nurse at a 24-hour post, who does not have the right to prescribe any medicines to children, even in emergency conditions.
Residents of the psycho-neurological residential care facility for the elderly and disabled #3 are leaving concert hall after the performance organized by volunteers. February 2, 2018, Minsk, Belarus. Such events are almost the only opportunity to communicate with people not from the orphanage and somehow to diversify life.
Residents of the psycho-neurological residential care facility for the elderly and disabled #3 in his room. May 24, 2016, Minsk, Belarus. Many of the residents lie all the time, which causes atrophy of all muscles. In the orphanage there is no rehabilitation therapist and massage therapist, which are necessary for such people.
Children participate in the New Year's performance in Cherven orphanage for disabled children and young people with disabilities with psychophysical development. December 23, 2016, Cherven, Minsk region, Belarus. In Belarus, orphanages are closed institutions, which can be accessed during various holidays and performances. Therefore, very little is known about the conditions of life and what is happening in such institutions.