The Ukraine gained independence from Russia in 1991. Since that time the proportion of people of pensionable age (55 for women and 60 for men) has increased as more and more young adults leave the country to pursue work opportunities. The government of the Ukraine are faced with an increasing demand on their residential and care homes. Many are bulidings are old with erratic electricity supply, sparce cooking facilities and only occasional access to water.

Photographer Rebecca Matthews visited one such care home in Didivschyna last year. The pictures below show how this care home struggling to cover the most basic needs of its 21 permanant patients. Many care facilities rely soley on donations from charities such as the International Aid Trust. The pictures remain copyright of Rebecca Matthews who will be travelling to Uganda next month to photograph and report on women who have lived through the civil war. She will also be talking to some ex-child soldiers which will no doubt prove confronting.  More of her work and her contact details can be found at her web site: Rebecca Matthews

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