Dmytro Alukii, 57, lives at Lushington House, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He fights epic battles just doing daily tasks due to his debilitating rheumatoid arthritis and chronic illness. He requires ongoing in-patient care to address his complex health needs. His living environment further complicates his circumstances.
Even before there were no escalators in service starting October 2024, Dmytro Alukii needed assistance going up or down the stairs. The elevator in his apartment building is recently out of service, and the building itself is already not up to snuff for a wheelchair user. For his family—including his teenage sons, Oleksandr and Maxsym—they are forced to carry him down five flights of stairs. They apply this added scrutiny every time he needs to go to a medical appointment.
Since the war broke out, Dmytro’s wife, Iryna, has been his primary carer and a first-hand witness to the everyday fight her family faces. The physical toll this took—with carrying Dmytro himself exposing both him and his sons to further injury—was significant. “It’s really dangerous. One step wrong and three of us fall down,” Oleksandr stated, highlighting the precariousness of their situation.
The family fled Ukraine in 2022 after the Russian invasion, abandoning their farm and livestock. Dmytro sold his goats to pay for their escape. Her relocation to the UK gave her hope for a life free from fear and full of opportunity. The challenges they’ve faced in their new home are proving too much.
Maxsym expressed the urgency of their predicament: “We have no choice. We cannot miss the hospital appointment.” The family’s race against time is the crux of the story. They navigate the lack of space that they’ve occupied. All of it impacts Dmytro’s medical needs to be met.
Local officials have admitted the challenges faced by the Alukii family. Suzannah Taylor stated, “We’ve been in regular contact with Mr. Alukii’s family, including making arrangements to support with accessing the stairs, and want to make sure his current home is accessible and suitable. Our teams will continue to work closely with the family, as well as Elmbridge Borough Council, around their options for rehousing.”
The Alukii family is still in a very vulnerable place as they wait for answers to their accessibility issues. Urgent action becomes even more imperative. They experience real, daily harm that dramatically diminishes their health, safety and overall quality of life.
