Liquor Licenses for Nursing Homes?

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

A newly signed legislation is allowing "homes for the aged" to get liquor licenses.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said in a press release

This bill helps ensure that those serving Michigan's aging population are given more opportunities to offer products and services that help their residents feel more at home."

Will there be a mass move of "the aged" to Michigan?

New legislation allows nursing home to get liquor licenses.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.

I say, why not? Especially in assisted living places. As long as the resident is well enough to tolerate a drink, then why not offer it?

The only con I can think of is that it opens up a whole can of worms regarding insuring the staff doesn't steal it, use it while at work etc...One more thing to track.

I can just imagine a bunch of old folks having a few and getting rowdy! Humm...on second thought...

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Wouldn't it be easier for the nursing homes, assisted living & etc to have the liquor on stock rather than needing a doctor to put in an order for it?

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Yep, I'm moving to Michigan! :yes:

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My immediate reaction is NO! Many elderly patients who live in nursing homes/assisted living facilities often experience feelings of isolation/depression adjusting to this next phase of life, many are widowed and their families barely visit.... introducing alcohol into the mix is a recipe for disaster. From past experience, in a facility I used to work for, there was a policy that would permit residents to have/keep liquor in their rooms and only an exceptional few handled that responsibly. Even when we'd try to regulate their access to alcohol, their family would sneak it in. At this facility, every week there was an experience where we'd spend a good chunk of a shift picking up 200lb men off the floor, calling the MD, sometimes transferring to ER, informing the pt. family, and doing falls assessments round the clock because someone's grandpa "had a few too many"... many intoxicated patient's would become aggressive and physically assault the nursing staff... and the MD was always reluctant to revoke their alcohol privilege. So, what's a nurse to do? For me the answer was to quit!

Also, elderly patients are on so many medications that create contraindications if taken with alcohol... I would only be ok with this if Nurses were not held responsible for a person's decision to over-indulge. I say everyone should have the right to live however they like, so long as they're not harming others. But when a person decides to live in assisted/nursing homes they have to accept that there are rules. I'm not risking my license so someone can have a brandy whenever they feel like it. If people want to live recklessly, that's their prerogative... but I am not comfortable with this when I am legally responsible for you as a patient. You wanna drink to excess and be non-compliant with the care-plan and medications keeping you alive, fine. Go home to live with your family who can do such a better job than us Nurses.

Sorry if this seems dramatic or if I've veered off on a tangent. I have just had very negative experiences in the past with alcohol being permitted to residents. It's one of the many reason I ran fast as I could from that job.

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Wouldn't it be easier for the nursing homes, assisted living & etc to have the liquor on stock rather than needing a doctor to put in an order for it?

Would you still be willing to give medications where liquor is contraindicated to people who drink unknown amounts of alcohol? I wouldn't be ok with doing that, not when it's *my* license of the line.

Without a doctors written order, I'm not going to play along.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Nursing homes? No, I don't think so. Assisted and Independent Living facilities? Why not have a bar in the building? That is their home, and if they are ambulatory and can make the choice to walk or wheel themselves, and order a drink for themselves, why the hell not?

Elderly are adults, no matter where they live, many are on multiple medications that may have contraindications to alcohol. Why should their choice to enjoy a drink change because they've chosen to live in a facility?? I'll tell you, assisted living facilities are bleeding them dry of their money as it is, anything that offers them more for their money I'm in favor of.

A nursing home filled with people who need skilled care, I think it would create more issues/liability than it's worth.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Elderly are adults, no matter where they live, many are on multiple medications that may have contraindications to alcohol. Why should their choice to enjoy a drink change because they've chosen to live in a facility?? I'll tell you, assisted living facilities are bleeding them dry of their money as it is, anything that offers them more for their money I'm in favor of.

I agree. As a provider I get and would shy away from the liability especially falls but as a human being I don't see any value in not living life to its fullest at that stage even if it hastens my death. Frankly I want booze, probably cigarettes and definitely high calorie, greasy, fried food if I live long enough to make it to the nursing home. Its not like I'm going there to rehabilitate and then return home so I'm in favor of enjoying myself and hopefully will have someone who will advocate for my bliss even if it seems unsafe to others.

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How about improving on communication that will help patients regain their dignity to feel more at home such as validation therapy

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Specializes in Renal Dialysis.

I don't know much about assisted living. If I have my own stash of booze, will it be confiscated? It better not!! If they don't want the liability of providing it, I understand. Goodness knows they'll probably upcharge the crap out of it anyway. But don't prohibit adults of sound mind from having a drink.

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With proper inventory mechanism and tighter controls this is good for those who can safely use drinks

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I guess I visualized a little old lady with her one little glass of port wine. Or like my great-grandma had her nightly half shot of Jack Daniels.

I do get a little nervous when a politician talks about how this "offers more opportunities to offer products and services..." rather than the aged clamoring for intoxicating spirits.

Sort of like companies selling my email info to "trusted partners".

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