Touching stories: How the aged live in Russian nursing homes

The "Period Left to Live" Exhibition has opened in Moscow's Rabochy and Kolkhoznitsa Exposition Center, showing the works of young photographer Konstantin Chalabov. The project includes photos and videos of residents of Russian nursing homes. / Easter celebrations in a nursing home.

Konstantin Chalabov told RBTH: “I had expected to see something sad, something that would move me — old people crawling about in the halls, no one looking after them and so on. But in reality, there was nothing so horrible. The saddest thing about nursing homes is actually the people's stories.” / Easter celebrations in a nursing home.

“There is a feeling that residents are in a state of despair. Simply because everyone there has had something tragic happen to them — their children died or drank themselves sick and refused to take care of their parents,” relates the author. / Galina Yakovleva, died 2 years ago aged 80, spent three years in a nursing home.

“However, after my observations I can say that if a person is 80 years old and doesn't have anyone, it is better for him or her to live in a nursing home and have a roommate to talk with. They will be taken care of, fed and washed. On the other hand, people need a home of their own, while here they live as if in a clinic.” - Konstantin Chalabov told RBTH. / Vladimir Lectmitz (pictured), 65, has lived in a nursing home for 1 year. He has a daughter, but they do not keep in touch.

“The theme of old folks is indeed commonplace. Many photographers have covered it. It is easy to use the theme to gain visibility and present yourself to news agencies, to enter competitions in Russia and abroad. So that people see it and shed a tear. But it's more complex than that.” / Tatiana Sumerkina (pictured), 59, has lived in a nursing home for 20 years. Has no children.

“I didn't want to show this ‘trash,’ the gloom and oppression in the lives of the people there. But at the same time I don't think photographers should show only the good things. I think that a person should not be photographed in a situation that belittles him.” thinks author. / Anatoly Shumatov (pictured), 55, disabled since childhood, has lived in a nursing home since his mother died.

Victor Alekseev (pictured), 65, was imprisoned for 28 years for hooliganism and fighting. Had a wife and children, but took to drinking and is now alone. In his own words, he got frostbite in his legs, arms, nose and ears “by mistake” after lying in a forest in winter for 5 days. Has lived in a nursing home for three years.

Alexandr Kirpichev, died two years ago of cancer aged 63. Spent 5 years in a nursing home, his daughter rarely came to visit him; she had no possibility of taking care of him.

Ekaterina Kozlova, 83, used to work on a communal farm. Has lived for three years in a nursing home, has no children and her sister refused to take her in.

Vyacheslav Tuev, 62, engineer and disabled widower. One year ago he left the nursing home to live with his daughter and granddaughter. Now he wants to go back to the nursing home.

Alexey and Galina Bognanov. They used to live together, then he left her. A short while later Alexey asked her to come and join him. “We'll see how you behave yourself," was the reply. Since then they’ve lived together again. Alexey has a younger brother Petrusha, who used to visit him when he studied at school, but later they lost touch. Galina’s relatives do not know that she lives in a nursing home. She wants to write to the Russian TV program “Wait For Me,” which helps lost relatives find each other.

Alexandra Belous, died 2 years ago aged 85. She had two sons, but they died. Spent three years in a nursing home. Her cat Murzik moved in 3 years ago.