State investigators from Minnesota's Department of Health have cited Covered Bridge Assisted Living in Holdingford for neglect, alleging the facility provided a mentally ill resident with 18 shots of liquor within a 24-hour period before a scheduled doctor's appointment.
According to an investigative report from the Department of Health, authorities were alerted when the resident, Don Brambrink, missed his telehealth appointment after reportedly consuming a significant amount of alcohol while fishing. A registered nurse at the facility told investigators that Brambrink was "dead to the world" following the drinking.
The report detailed the timeline of alcohol administration: two shots at 6:54 p.m. and 8 p.m. the night before the appointment, followed by two shots at 3:55 a.m., a beer at 5 a.m., and multiple additional doses of two shots each throughout the morning, including at 5:55 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:55 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. on the day of the appointment.
Brambrink's primary care physician subsequently requested he be sent to the emergency room. When a representative from the physician's office called to check vital signs, the RN reported Brambrink was found on the floor and "didn’t feel right," leading to his transport to the emergency department.
Hospital staff proposed admitting Brambrink for alcohol withdrawal evaluation, but he declined, stating he preferred to go home and continue drinking. His blood alcohol level was recorded at 0.23%, nearly three times the legal limit for driving.
Brambrink has a history of mental health diagnoses, including psychoactive substance abuse and anxiety. His assessment indicated a 40-year history of hearing voices, a period of homelessness before moving into the facility, and a past of daily alcohol consumption and meth use.
Covered Bridge Assisted Living reportedly had an "alcohol plan" for Brambrink that allowed for two shots per hour, purportedly to help him manage auditory hallucinations.
Trista Barstow, the owner of Covered Bridge, defended the facility's practices in a statement to FOX 9, asserting that the facility specializes in caring for individuals with severe alcoholism. She argued that monitoring and spacing out alcohol consumption represents an improvement over unsupervised use. Barstow stated that the facility disagrees with the deficiency cited and plans to appeal, believing their policies and care plans demonstrate a commitment to resident safety and regulatory compliance.
Barstow also noted that competent adult residents have the right to make personal choices, including alcohol consumption, under the Minnesota Resident Bill of Rights. She added that the facility's role is to educate residents on risks, monitor their health, and intervene when necessary.
