Giving alcohol to a resident

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I have been working at an Asst Living Facility for 1 month part time and really love it. A resident's son gave the wellness office a bottle of Brandy to give to her at night. The instructions are to give her a 'shot' of brandy with 7up or another clear soda. The drink is suppose to help her sleep at bedtime. The other nurse have no problem wth this, I on the other hand, feel very weird. As far as I know, the Director of the building has no knowledge of this. The resident will abuse it if she kept it in her apartment, as I was told. I don't know what to do. Suggestions please.

I work LTC, so I can only answer from that perspective. I have 3 residents who have orders for alcoholic beverages. One of them has a PRN order for a glass of wine x1/day, the other two have orders for 8pm for a glass of beer.

As the others have said, check your P&P for a more definitive answer.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

I mentioned our family friend who was in such great denial about her true alcohol intake because unfortunately, especially with the elderly population, being alcoholic frequently gets overlooked.

Grandma simply doesn't have too much to drink because it's too hard for families to accept or because she honestly doesn't realize how much she drinks in one day. One of our neighbors was in her mid nineties and was a retired elementary school principal. She went to mass daily and played a wicked game of bridge. She had what she referred to as "her beverage" about 5:30 every day. One drink, right? Nope! Every time the ice cube melted, she'd not only add more ice but another splash of scotch. I don't think it ever occurred to her that she was having the equivalent of several drinks per day.

Someone who does that can have the DTs just as easily as a skidrow bum drinker of two buck chuck or an upstanding citizen who attends AA regularly. That was my concern along with resident dignity and rights.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

A shot of brandy has fewer side effects than most sleeping pills. Who cares if she drinks? Is she getting in a car? Is she operating heavy machinery? My care plan is already in writing and my health care proxy knows I expect an order saying "Wine ad lib. May self medicate":p

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Alcohol in LTC/SNF facilities is very common. Unlike acute hospitals, the facility is the resident's home. There is alot more freedom as to what they can do. Just ask the MD for an order for x amount of x-kind of alcohol and how often. Put it in the careplan. It is normal to keep it in the med room. I have mixed many a drink on the 3-11 shift for residents. I have seen alot of wine, scotch and beer stored in facilites.

I think nurses have a tendency to forget the facility is the patient/resident's home while they are there. That is why you knock before entering "their" bedroom, ask if they want to take "their" meds, ask if they want to take "their" shower... and respect "their" right to decline (not "refuse" because that implies they are doing something wrong).

I really felt weird the first time someone told me they wanted to have a beer. Another nurse explained by telling me "Hey, it's his home and his beer, why not? Just tell the MD."

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I hope somebody gives me a shot every night when I'm in the ALF.

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When I worked ltc we had a happy hour once a week. We just got the doctors to sign an order saying it was ok

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A shot of brandy has fewer side effects than most sleeping pills. Who cares if she drinks? Is she getting in a car? Is she operating heavy machinery? My care plan is already in writing and my health care proxy knows I expect an order saying "Wine ad lib. May self medicate":p

I would love, love, love to see more orders like this! Everyone wants a pill...a nice glass of wine or mixed drink would do wonders to calm someone..esp if they are used to doing this at home.

Years ago we did happy hour a few times a month...those were the nicest nights..everyone slept well!

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

I just hope I have a child as considerate:)

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Supervisory, HEDIS, IT.
I have been working at an Asst Living Facility for 1 month part time and really love it. A resident's son gave the wellness office a bottle of Brandy to give to her at night. The instructions are to give her a 'shot' of brandy with 7up or another clear soda. The drink is suppose to help her sleep at bedtime. The other nurse have no problem wth this, I on the other hand, feel very weird. As far as I know, the Director of the building has no knowledge of this. The resident will abuse it if she kept it in her apartment, as I was told. I don't know what to do. Suggestions please.

This is common practice in LTC facilities. As long as there is a doctor's order it is perfectly legal. The resident could possibly go into DTs if they are used to getting it regularly. I work in a LTC facility and we have one resident who has a PRN order for 2 beers a day. The family brings them in and we keep them in the narc fridge.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

If I'm in the home, I'd want a couple shots a night to numb the awfulness of being institutionalized. It is their home, and frankly, the effects of the 40+ pills some of these residents are ingesting every day are much worse than a shot.

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My only concern would be meds/alcohol interactions...

If I'm in the home, I'd want a couple shots a night to numb the awfulness of being institutionalized. It is their home, and frankly, the effects of the 40+ pills some of these residents are ingesting every day are much worse than a shot.
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i used to work at a LTC facility and one of the residents would have 1 beer everyday while he was "working" at the facilities "general store" not to unheard of

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