Social adaptation in action: 75-year-old Ivan Palivoda from Zaporizhzhia has found his place in Zaplatyn
We continue to share the outcomes of the social adaptation project implemented in the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Volyn, Bukovyna, Khmelnytskyi, and Zhytomyr regions. This time, we bring you the story of 75-year-old Ivan Palivoda, who evacuated from Zaporizhzhia to the west of the country due to shelling.
Mr. Ivan has relocated several times. Before learning about Rokada, he spent nearly two years living in the Ternopil region. Later, he settled in the Lviv region.
“Initially, the man lived in the Batkivshchyna sanatorium in Truskavets. By the way, this was the first shelter in the region where we launched the social adaptation project back in 2024. Over the course of two years, more than 60 people from there have been able to return to independent living. Mr. Ivan is among them,” says Marta Maksymenko, a social worker at the Rokada regional office.
“The endless relocations were exhausting. I always wanted to have my own space, just like back in Zaporizhzhia, where I spent almost my entire life,” the man says, expressing his gratitude to the foundation’s team for their support.
Ivan Palivoda was forced to make the decision to leave his hometown in September 2022. He was in the hospital at the time when a Russian missile exploded nearby. Doctors advised him to seek a calmer place, warning that his weak heart might simply not survive the stress.
“Mr. Ivan is highly motivated. This is incredibly helpful when working with older people, as finding the optimal solution can often be challenging. But we succeeded. We placed him in the Supported Living Center in the village of Zaplatyn, Stryi district,” Marta Maksymenko continues.
Recently, the man celebrated his first anniversary at the new location. He admits that the village community welcomed him wonderfully.
“We visited museums, various events, went to concerts… It is peaceful here and the grounds are beautiful,” he shares.
Ivan Palivoda takes care of himself independently. Sometimes, social workers from the Supported Living Center provide assistance.
“They can run to the store for groceries, but overall, I try to manage on my own. Only now do I feel a sense of inner peace and quiet. I have friends here; we watch TV together and spend time… Sometimes I wonder if I might stay here forever,” the man reflects, adding that he attends church every Sunday and goes for walks with friends during the week. “We always greet everyone we meet. That is the custom here.”
Moreover, during holidays, Mr. Ivan becomes a head chef, and not just for his neighbors. He admits that almost the entire village knows the plov he cooks in a 100-liter cauldron.
“He doesn’t sit still; he is constantly on the move. He used to say that the Batkivshchyna sanatorium felt like a beehive because there were 350 people there, but now he has something close to a family — there are only eight residents in the Supported Living Center,” the Rokada social worker notes, adding that to ensure Mr. Ivan’s greater comfort, the foundation also provided him with a pillow, an orthopedic mattress, and a multicooker.
Marta Maksymenko says that enabling an individual to regain their independence is precisely the ultimate goal of the social adaptation project.
“It is crucial for an individual to find sustainable solutions by drawing on their own strengths and the community’s opportunities, so they can influence their own future. This is the whole point of the project. We do not make decisions for anyone; instead, we create conditions under which people choose their own path and move toward their goals step by step. Together, we analyze the situation, look for available support options, and establish connections with local services and organizations. Our ultimate goal is for the person to eventually cope with challenges confidently on their own, without outside assistance,” the social worker concludes.
If you or your loved ones live in a shelter and are striving for change, please contact Rokada. The social adaptation program is being implemented with the financial support of UNHCR Ukraine – the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
