Minnesota Facility Under Investigation for Alcohol Provision to Resident

State investigators from Minnesota’s Department of Health have claimed that an assisted living facility, Covered Bridge Assisted Living in Holdingford, provided an excessive amount of alcohol to a mentally ill man before a scheduled doctor’s appointment. The man, Don Brambrink, was given 18 shots of liquor within 24 hours leading up to his appointment, as reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis.

This incident brought attention when Brambrink missed his telehealth appointment due to heavy drinking while fishing. Investigators learned that the facility had been negligent in their care responsibilities, contributing to Brambrink’s condition. The registered nurse at the facility mentioned that he appeared unresponsive after consuming alcohol.

The Department of Health report detailed the timeline of alcohol provision. Brambrink received multiple shots of alcohol at intervals throughout the night and morning prior to his doctor’s visit. His primary care physician advised sending him to the emergency room when he showed signs of distress.

Upon contacting Brambrink, hospital staff intended to keep him for evaluation related to alcohol withdrawal. However, Brambrink refused, expressing a preference to return home and continue drinking. His blood alcohol concentration was recorded at 0.23%, significantly exceeding the legal limit of 0.08%.

Brambrink’s history included psychoactive substance abuse and anxiety, with his assessment indicating he heard voices for four decades and had previously been homeless. The facility had a specific ‘alcohol plan’ to provide him with two shots per hour, attempting to manage his mental health symptoms.

Trista Barstow, owner of Covered Bridge Assisted Living, defended the facility’s approach in an interview. She stated that her facility is unique in accepting residents with severe alcoholism and emphasized that their monitoring of alcohol intake serves as harm reduction.

In a formal statement, Barstow mentioned their disagreement with the investigators’ findings and their decision to appeal. She stressed the rights of competent adult residents to make personal decisions, including alcohol consumption, as part of Minnesota’s Resident Bill of Rights. Barstow added that their role is to educate residents about risks, monitor their health, and arrange emergency care as needed.

Fox News Digital has reached out to both Covered Bridge and the Minnesota Department of Health for additional comments regarding the investigation and its implications.