Woman exhibits fear of vehicles and applies ointment to healing injuries.
Living rough on Maximov Boulevard - the tale of a Biychan elder
The streets of Biychan have seen a new face; an elderly woman, now a regular on Maximov Boulevard, has established her camp right outside Children's Clinic No.1, previously residing in the ATS-4 area.
Some sympathize, while others demonstrate disgust. The mountain of trash piling up near her camp leaves many turning to the administration for help, yet all they receive is a shrug and a "we can't help without her consent." Social services too have thrown in the towel, leaving behind a trail of discarded brochures.
Cars, the Unspoken Villains
From afar, the woman appears homeless, clad in ragged clothes and a red overcoat fastened with ropes. Her disheveled gray hair peeks out from under her beanie. She leans on a backpack laden with necessities. Her bare legs are marred by wounds or sores.
To deliver the unvarnished truth, we give voice to her raw dialogue. A recording of the conversation can be found at our editorial office.
- Mind your own business, I ain't interested. And as for them blasted cars, who the hell owns 'em? Where do they find the coin for such fancy rides? - she snaps.
At first, our conversation proceeds smoothly. "Olga Petrovna" (for convenience) recounts encounters with the administration and the police.
But then she takes a turn, answering directly questions in an incoherent manner.
- I got a house, but my body ain't holdin' up. This 'growth' or 'cow's udder' on my legs, and it's spreading to my face. Can't cover 'em with stockings, they burst and stick, spreading infection. I've been here so long, but there's no hospital.
I persist, asking about her predicament.
- I came here for personal reasons, they ripped me off, and now they're livin' here. They must be from somewhere else, don't work anywhere. They swarm around in their cars, in Biysk, Troitskoye, and beyond. - she gestures wildly.
I attempt to bring the grandmother back to reality, asking her name again.
I no longer carry a name, but my memory's sharp. Foreign cars. I ask how much such a car costs at their auctions in stores? 7.5 million rubles! We never saw such earnings in the Soviet Union. This is Russia – the cult of Stalin's personality.
Olga Petrovna insists that "I've been workin' all my life and still am." Yet, when it comes to her job, she leaves me bewildered.
- When I escaped from the suburban pine forest, when they swindled me to pass on my strength. I was sick, I didn't venture outside, but when I returned, they turned on me. I don't know how old I am! You might think I look like them too.
Life in the Open
Sleeping on a bench in the open might be uncomfortable, so it's intriguing to see how Olga Petrovna manages. Bags filled with water bottles and self-tending wounds are her rudimentary means of survival.
- I have liquid soap, but I use it on my shoes. I rub 'em with soap and sour cream. Am I talkin' about a pig's face or a bitch's udder? - she muses.
"- Maybe you should visit a doctor?"
"- Nonsense! Your grandmas should go, not me!" - she unexpectedly guffaws.
And so, when asked about her relatives who could take care of her, Olga Petrovna drifts into a dreamworld ruled by cars.
"- I have relatives! I've got other runaways livin' in my house. Why should I wait to be killed? That's why I refuse to go to a nursing home, because they only take people with a pension over 10,000 rubles. But with so many cars, with such killing... The cult of Stalin's personality! They even portrayed the Stalinist kitchen in the pine forest near Moscow on TV."
Olga Petrovna doesn't fear encounters with strangers. Sometimes, people even feed her.
"- Locals are the only ones who come by sometimes," she nods. "But we've been warned not to let the cars get too close to us, and never to enter their vehicles."
Since nearly two benches are stacked with bags, I can't help but ask what's inside them beyond water bottles.
"- I just bought some things at the store. Kids' clothes," she even whispers suggestively.
"- But why kids' clothes?"
My body's all dried up, sweetheart. Only this spot (points at her legs) heals, and it might burst. I feel fine in the city, even with all these cars.
Continuing on about daily life, Olga Petrovna reveals she's slept in a "chair-bed" for many years. Not a bench, she clarifies?
"- Where's your bed?"
"At home. I return there. I need to plant the garden before it's too late."
"- Why carry bags if you have a place to sleep?"
"- Don't pry, girl! I don't care what lurks in those cars or their gasoline needs."
We're close to her true life, and here they are again, those cars.
"- Where were you born, town or village?"
"Radio - Russia! I lived there happily (emphasizes 'there', mimicking my 'town'). There was no hospital to go to. Warning signs came from middle school!"
"- Do you collect a pension?"
"It's in someone else's hands, printed at a publishing house. Chinese or Japanese people reduce it. Ask who takes it abroad and who prints it."
"Where do you shelter from bad weather?"
"There's a bus stop nearby. I need a car to go to Troitsk. Can't do anything without bosses. I'll take some bags, they'll come in handy. Leave the trash."
"How do you want people to treat you?"
"I don't care! I decide my own life. Let them pass by more often, or my mood worsens."
"What's your name?"
"I'll choose a new one."
Her name was Nina
An anonymous source from "BR," for security reasons, narrated her reasons for the elder's current predicament.
Nina – her real name – came from Troitsky District. She has a son and grandchildren who are already adults. She owned a large house and previously worked as a bookkeeper. According to an unverified account, something tragic happened, leaving her with a concussion and memory loss. However, she displays brilliance, as she could once count every penny before shopping.
She started behaving strangely, carrying sticks and collecting bags like she does now in the city. Her son constantly beat her, drank, took her pension, and pushed her out of the house.
Nina was kicked out onto the streets and shuttled from house to house, unable to find a place to live. The local administration helped her secure a small house to live in, but she eventually burned it down and moved to the district.
In the district, they took her to a psychiatric clinic and kept her for six months. She was subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and started refusing treatment.
After treatment, Nina returned to normal, but her family abandoned her. Her son and grandchildren moved away, and she's been left to fend for herself on the streets.
The "BR" editorial team intends to contact various authorities, even if she does not wish it, to attempt helping her. They aim to provide a safer and more dignified life for the elderly woman.
Additional Information:
- Elderly individuals often experience increased vulnerability to crimes like theft or robbery due to decreased mobility or isolation.
- Fear of cars could stem from a past incident involving a car or a general sense of anxiety related to traffic safety.
- Community and family support plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of elderly individuals who feel threatened.
- In cases where elderly people fear cars, they might need emotional support, security systems, or counseling to alleviate their fears.
- Local authorities or news outlets may provide accurate details about specific incidents or individuals in a community.
- The homeless woman on Maximov Boulevard, now known as Olga Petrovna, has a clear disdain for cars and their owners.
- Olga Petrovna questions the earnings and cost of expensive cars in Russia.
- Olga Petrovna insists that she has been working her entire life.
- Olga Petrovna's health issues, including skin conditions, remain unaddressed due to her refusal to visit hospitals.
- Olga Petrovna's conversation reveals personal struggles, including encounters with the administration and the police.
- Olga Petrovna's unconventional survival methods include using liquid soap on her shoes instead of washing her body.
- Olga Petrovna refuses to seek medical help for her health issues, instead opting to care for herself with bags filled with water bottles and self-tending wounds.
- Olga Petrovna's fear of cars stems from a past incident or a general sense of anxiety related to traffic safety.
- Olga Petrovna names numerous cities, including Biysk and Troitskoye, where she claims "runaways" reside in cars.
- Olga Petrovna's dreamworld revolves around her house and the cars she believes are trying to kill her.
- Olga Petrovna's story contradicts her earlier claim of having a place to sleep, as she mentions owning a house and a "chair-bed."
- Olga Petrovna may be using bags for purposes beyond survival, such as collecting kids' clothes.
- Olga Petrovna's erratic behavior might be a result of mental health issues, such as schizophrenia.
- Olga Petrovna's son is heavily implied to have subjected her to physical and emotional abuse.
- The local administration assisted Olga Petrovna in securing a small house to live in, but she eventually burned it down.
- Olga Petrovna's troubled relationship with her family led to her being left to fend for herself on the streets.
- Olga Petrovna's homelessness makes her more vulnerable to crimes like theft or robbery.
- Community support and family involvement are essential for the safety and well-being of elderly individuals like Olga Petrovna.
- The "BR" editorial team plans to reach out to various authorities to help Olga Petrovna secure a safer and more dignified life.
- Fear of cars, especially among elderly individuals, should be treated as a valid concern, and appropriate steps should be taken to alleviate their fears.
- Poor mental health can increase the likelihood of erratic behavior and isolation among elderly individuals.
- Ignoring the needs and concerns of the homeless can lead to longer-term consequences for their health and well-being.
- Older adults are at greater risk for chronic diseases, skin conditions, eye health issues, and hearing problems.
- Proper self-care, therapies, and treatments can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals living with chronic diseases, autoimmune disorders, and mental health issues.
