north metro

The elderly are not adapting well in today's world. I am in that group and live in a senior condo that is individually owned. Seniors do have too much time on their hands...so that leads to complaints and unhappiness. My first question is why are they wandering around the building if the power is out and the hallway lights are not working. Wouldn't it be better to stay put in their own units until power is restored???. Where were they going and why would be a good starting question. I honestly think they expect too much from everyone and need to realize that they are not any more important than anyone else. Signed: A senior who knows better.

I think the bigger question, kenomama, is why there was nobody around to help them during that outage. You can't predict what people will do or why, regardless of their age. But shouldn't a city-run senior living apartment always have staff available? A siren going off for two hours is equally unacceptable. It sounds like these people have valid complaints.

don't judge seniors untill you have walked in their shoes.

Factual error -- Social Security checks do not arrive the 3rd of the month. They arrive on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Wednesday of the month, depending on the initial of the individual's last month. Also, common sense tells us that all the residents wouldn't be trodding down the stairs because there was a power outage. The residents have legitimate gripes. But the grousing evidenced in the article detracts from the writer's and subjects' credibility.

"Seniors have a lot of time on their hands," said Bakken -- Seriously? This is her answer? To treat them disrespectfully and not take their concerns and get to the root of a problem? Isn't that part of her job? They are still allowed out of their apartments and allowed to move safely through the complex aren't they? That would not be making them "more important than anyone else" as kenomama stated. It would be giving them the same treatment as all of us would expect in a living complex. Bakken needs to be replaced with someone who can do the job properly.

DufferH says: "Factual error -- Social Security checks do not arrive the 3rd of the month. They arrive on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Wednesday of the month, depending on the initial of the individual's last month" ... actually Duffer, you're kinda wrong there, and for many folks, they do arrive on the 3rd day of the month. You see, a few years ago, the payable dates were changed around because so many checks went out the 1st of the month ... but those who got them early were allowed to keep with that schedule. I've received my check on the 3rd day(or 2nd or 1st in case of holidays/weekends) for at least 15 years. And you're right. The residents do seem to have legitimate gripes. Sounds maybe like Nurse Ratched is the manager lady ..... "Wire, briar, limber-lock, Three geese in a flock, One flew east, one flew west, And one flew over the cuckoo's nest"

How hard would it be to adjust the due date for rents to the day after the resident receives his/her social security check? Yes, you'd have to pro-rate the rent during the transition period but, my God, we have computers for that.

I would suggest that Shelly Bakken be replaced ASAP with a person who has the best interests of the people who are living in the Champlin housing unit. For Ms. Bakken to make the statement that the "Elderly residents have too much time on their hands" is ageism at it's worst! What does she expect these elderly residents to do go out and work a 40 hour week? For God's sake retirement and peace and stability is what they have worked their whole life for. My heart goes out to these people. My mother lived in a high rise in Minneapolis for 16 years. And for much of the time she had to deal with a tyrant manager much like this Ms. Bakken who bullied and intimidated the residents in her building. Unfortunately for that manager it got to the point with this manager where one of the elderly people's young relatives finally beat the crap out of this lady. This is what it took to stop this bully. What is it going to take for Ms. Bakken to stop her bullying? I would suggest the dismissal of Ms. Bakken for a person who appreciates and respects the elderly residents she/he serves.

@Duffer H you are WRONG the social security check DO NOT come out on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of the month. That is complete nonsense. The majority come out on the 3rd of the month. There are a portion of the people who get them according to a date that coincides with their birthdate. These people were a part of a trial project to scatter the checks to make ease on the banking system. But they don't do that anymore. And at the majority of senior buildings due to most people getting their checks on the 3rd. The rent is DUE on the 1st but a grace period is given until the 5th. So PLEASE talk about what you know. And don't take about the writer of the article being in the dark. You are in the dark and should wise up and grow a HEART<3

Why were they moving around in the power outage? Gee, let me guess. During this time we had unreal humidity and temperatures, and since the air conditioning would not be working, you could sit there, or go outside. What would you have done eventually?