Insensitive and heartless people.

Quickie · #1 08-29-2011, 01:38 PM

I recently moved into a large retirement style apartment complex. At having just turned 55, I am the youngest here. The complex has 225 apartments from studio to the "penthouse" on the fourth floor. 1260 square foot apartment where the main manager lives.

I have made friends with the tenants on my wing and said they could count on me if ever they needed help.

Last night, my new next door neighbor came pounding on my door at 11 pm. She said she heard a loud "thump" above her bedroom. I went upstairs and rang the bell and no answer. One month ago, I heard a woman crying for help above my apartment and after calling management, she was found on the floor injured and she has been moved out to a more nursing type home.

So I called the management last night to report the situation and was thoroughly spanked for calling about the possibility of a tenants welfare. The manager said, "call 911 if you are concerned and don't call me about this again, it's not my concern. Call during normal business hours."

OK. So I did. Police show up and want a pass key so they call the manager. He berates the officer and tells them to "go bother the assistant manager with this". The officer states that "this guy isn't a lot of help."

So finally the resident is located in another apartment and it appears that he knocked over a chair as he left and that was the noise.

Cool. All ended well. Officer leaves. Asst. managers leave, but I am p***ed at the lack of concern and the insensitivity of the manager.

My concern and question is, what if someone was laying there dying from a heart attack or stroke. Would the complex be liable for this as they were notified and acted so callous and I did nothing?

Opinions? Thoughts?

Tupac · #2 08-29-2011, 01:43 PM

I doubt the liability would be on the manager's shoulders.

Quickie · #3 08-29-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupac

I doubt the liability would be on the manager's shoulders.

Part of the "selling" point that we were told when looking here, is the fact that there is on site management 24/7.

Unrepresented · #4 08-29-2011, 01:46 PM

I've seen commercials for products that offer the ability to summon emergency personnel if you've fallen and can't get up.

Quickie · #5 08-29-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

I've seen commercials for products that offer the ability to summon emergency personnel if you've fallen and can't get up.

True, if you're still awake. And usually those products go to a call or monitoring center that try to call you first before any further action is taken. They are better than nothing for sure, but they aren't a fail safe.

MJ5150 · #6 08-29-2011, 01:50 PM

Find the owner of the property and let them know what transpired. That kind of attitude may fly managing a dorm of college students, but not for older folks.

-Mike

Unrepresented · #7 08-29-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quickie

True, if you're still awake.

Ah, I see. You're trying to convince the property manager to improve the sound deadening between the floors.

Quickie · #8 08-29-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Ah, I see. You're trying to convince the property manager to improve the sound deadening between the floors.

No. I meant that if the person falling was still awake. If they can not communicate because they are unconscious.....

Phalex · #9 08-29-2011, 01:53 PM

My mother in law has a pull cord in the bathroom, and other strategic points around her apt that supposedly summon assistance if pulled. She pays a butt load of rent on a teeny tiny one bedroom apt. The only thing that makes that worthwhile is added benefit of feeling secure. She could rent and hire help with cleaning and maint for what she's paying.

I'd look into who's responsible for what before someone hears a thud coming from your apt!

Quickie · #10 08-29-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Find the owner of the property and let them know what transpired. That kind of attitude may fly managing a dorm of college students, but not for older folks.

-Mike

I was thinking the exact thought myself.

Quickie · #11 08-29-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

My mother in law has a pull cord in the bathroom, and other strategic points around her apt that supposedly summon assistance if pulled. She pays a butt load of rent on a teeny tiny one bedroom apt. The only thing that makes that worthwhile is added benefit of feeling secure. She could rent and hire help with cleaning and maint for what she's paying.

I'd look into who's responsible for what before someone hears a thud coming from your apt!

An excellent point Phalex.

tastybasslines · #12 08-29-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupac

I doubt the liability would be on the manager's shoulders.

It would be if the officers could not get to the apartment in a timely manner because of management, not responding.

What if she is having a heart attack and it takes too long to reach her?

Southpaw5 · #13 08-29-2011, 03:15 PM

The attitude of the management is downright deplorable. My parents are still independent(67 and 61) but I fear for the day when we start to converse about assisted living. I feel like everyone is a crook, I would find it impossible to leave my parents alone with anyone and the example you just gave is dead on with the complaints they've shared from their friends.

If management claims they are available 24/7 they better damn well be. It sounds to me like they're taking advantage of a population who has very limited control of the situation. You seem to be the exception to the rule Quickie

LiquidMidnight · #14 08-29-2011, 03:44 PM

The fact that this is a retirement apartment complex and the manager's attitude is "ain't my problem" speaks volumes. I'd be pissed too.

runmikeyrun · #15 08-29-2011, 07:46 PM

I've been in a million nursing homes and assisted living facilities in my 16 year career as a medic. With the exception of a very select few (and very expensive) they are all understaffed by (mostly) inadequately trained and extremely overworked caregivers. As much as it will suck, my parents are moving in with me until I absolutely cannot care for them anymore. This is one aspect of healthcare that REALLY needs overhauled.

If people knew the ins and outs of how these places are really run no one would have their relatives in a home.

Pilgrim · #16 08-29-2011, 09:59 PM

I think you did great! Keep up the good work, and if the building manager doesn't want to play, f*** him. He may get irritated at times, but who cares? He can get with the program or move out.

Not a bad idea to let the building owner(s) know of this, too - they could get sued for negligence on the part of the manager. In a retirement building, the manager should go out of his way to promote tenant safety!

Strat-Mangler · #17 08-30-2011, 06:08 AM

Playing devil's advocate here, but... 255 apartments filled with older people who are calling you whenever they hear a noise would eventually annoy me. I understand it's his job to be on the lookout, but I'm willing to bet that if he didn't have that nasty attitude, that he'd be swarmed with phone calls every 5 min about every other thing.

No?

**HeavyDuty** · #18 08-30-2011, 06:41 AM

Is this place a formal CCRC or just an apartment building/complex populated by seniors? There's a different standard of care from one to the other.

guy n. cognito · #19 08-30-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeavyDuty

Is this place a formal CCRC or just an apartment building/complex populated by seniors? There's a different standard of care from one to the other.

Yep. More importantly, a manager that keyed into a unit every time someone told someone they heard a thump wouldn't be employed too long.

PSPookie · #20 08-30-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Find the owner of the property and let them know what transpired. That kind of attitude may fly managing a dorm of college students, but not for older folks.

-Mike

True. For a retirement community, his behavior was unacceptable.

What did the guy think when he took the job? That the old folks would only have trouble M-F 9-5?