Minnesota Investigators: Assisted Living Facility Gave Resident 18 Shots of Liquor in 24 Hours, Then Sent Him to a Doctor's Appointment

State investigators concluded that Covered Bridge Assisted Living, a facility in Holdingford, Minnesota, neglected a resident by supplying him with 18 shots of liquor and a beer over a 24-hour span, according to a Minnesota Department of Health investigative report cited by FOX 9 Minneapolis and Fox News.

The resident, identified as Don Brambrink, missed a scheduled telehealth doctor's appointment after drinking heavily while fishing. Staff told investigators he was "dead to the world" when they found him. The facility's registered nurse described the situation to state investigators in detail.

According to the Department of Health report, staff gave Brambrink two shots of alcohol at 6:54 p.m., two more at 8 p.m., and two more at 9:20 p.m. the night before his appointment. The next morning, they gave him two shots at 3:55 a.m., a beer at 5 a.m., two shots at 5:55 a.m., two shots at 8:15 a.m., two shots at 9:15 a.m., two shots at 10:55 a.m., and two more shots at 12:30 p.m.

That totals 18 shots plus a beer in under 24 hours, all administered by facility staff.

An Actual Written 'Alcohol Plan'

The report states Covered Bridge had a typed-out "alcohol plan" for Brambrink specifying that he receive two shots per hour. Staff reportedly justified the plan as a way to help him "drown out the voices" he had been hearing for roughly 40 years, according to his assessment records cited in the report.

Brambrink's documented history includes psychoactive substance abuse, anxiety, daily alcohol use, and past methamphetamine use. He had also been homeless before moving into the facility, per the report.

When someone from his primary care physician's office called to request vital signs ahead of the missed telehealth appointment, the RN reported finding Brambrink on the floor, saying he "didn't feel right." He was taken to the emergency room shortly after.

His blood alcohol concentration measured 0.23%, according to the report, nearly three times Minnesota's legal driving limit of 0.08%.

He Refused Overnight Observation

Hospital staff wanted to keep Brambrink overnight to monitor him for alcohol withdrawal, a recognized medical risk that can include seizures and, in severe cases, death. He refused, telling hospital staff he "would rather go home and continue to drink," the report states.

Adults with capacity generally have the right to refuse medical treatment, even treatment that could save their life. Whether Brambrink, given his documented mental health history, was in a position to make that call is not addressed in the portion of the report cited by Fox News.

The state's neglect finding centers on the facility supplying the alcohol, not solely on Brambrink's own choices. Assisted living facilities in Minnesota are licensed and regulated specifically because residents like Brambrink, dealing with chronic mental illness and addiction, often can't be expected to manage their own care safely. A facility formalizing a two-shots-per-hour regimen in writing suggests this wasn't a one-time lapse but a sustained practice.

What isn't clear from the available reporting is how long the "alcohol plan" had been in place before this incident, whether any doctor or psychiatrist signed off on it, or what oversight the Minnesota Department of Health had of Covered Bridge before this case surfaced. It's also not reported whether the state has issued fines, ordered corrective action, or moved to revoke the facility's license.

Fox News' reporting, sourced from FOX 9 Minneapolis's coverage of the state investigative report, lays out the timeline and the neglect finding in detail but does not include a response from Covered Bridge Assisted Living itself. No indication is given in the available reporting that the facility has publicly commented on the findings.

State health investigations that find neglect typically lead to corrective action plans, fines, or in serious cases, license revocation. Whether Minnesota regulators take any of those steps against Covered Bridge, and whether Brambrink remains a resident there, has not been reported.