Midwest for Kaliningrad

The Kaliningrad Nursing Home

    The Kaliningrad Nursing Home, with a capacity to house only 25 people, is one of only two nursing homes in a city of 500,000 people.  Understandably, it has a long list of people waiting to get in.  Due to lack of funds, routine maintenance has not been done, and the building is seriously rundown.  Both the plumbing and wiring are old and unreliable, and in desperate need of repair. 

During her 2000 trip to Russia, Yuliya met with the Director of the Kaliningrad Nursing Home, Ms. Lubov Tishkova and some of her staff, who were pleased to show her around the facility.  After visiting with the staff and residents the following items were discovered to be the highest priority needs:

•    Medications:  The Nursing Home does not have money to buy basic medications commonly needed    for the elderly for the treatment of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, stomach problems, routine infections, etc.

•   Medical Equipment:  There is no money to purchase even basic medical equipment needed for monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar levels, etc., let alone anything as sophisticated as a heart monitor.

•   Basic Sanitary Supplies:  gauze, bandages, antiseptics, adult diapers, bad pads etc.

•   Housekeeping Supplies:   bed sheets, towels, cleaning supplies etc.