MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Finds Assisted-Living Facility Neglected Resident Given 18 Liquor Shots
The Minnesota Department of Health found Covered Bridge Assisted Living responsible for neglect after staff provided a resident with 18 shots of liquor and a beer within approximately 24 hours. The resident became severely intoxicated and missed a medical appointment concerning his alcohol use. The facility disputes the finding and intends to appeal.
HOLDINGFORD, MN (August 5, 2026)
The Minnesota Department of Health found that an assisted-living facility neglected a resident after staff provided him with 18 shots of liquor and a beer within approximately 24 hours, leaving him too intoxicated to participate in a scheduled medical appointment.
Covered Bridge Assisted Living in Holdingford disputes the state’s finding and has said it intends to appeal.
According to the investigative report, the resident had documented mental-health conditions and a history of alcohol and methamphetamine use. He reportedly consumed alcohol daily and had an individualized plan governing how alcohol would be provided to him.
Alcohol Provided Before Medical Appointment
The report said staff supplied six shots during the evening before the appointment. Two shots were recorded at 6:54 p.m., another two at 8 p.m. and two more at 9:20 p.m.
Additional alcohol was provided during the following day. The reported total reached 18 shots and one beer within approximately 24 hours.
The resident was scheduled for a telehealth appointment concerning his alcohol use but was unable to participate after becoming severely intoxicated while fishing.
A nurse reportedly described him as nearly unresponsive. He was subsequently taken for medical evaluation, where his blood-alcohol concentration was reportedly measured at 0.23 percent.
The legal driving limit is not a medical threshold for determining neglect, but the measurement indicated a substantial level of intoxication.
State Reaches Neglect Finding
The Department of Health concluded that the facility neglected the resident by providing the alcohol and failing to monitor his consumption adequately, according to a copy of the investigative report reviewed by People and other news organizations.
Minnesota’s Office of Health Facility Complaints investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, resident-rights violations and licensing noncompliance at assisted-living facilities and other regulated health care operations.
A maltreatment finding is an administrative determination. It is not the same as a criminal conviction, and the facility may challenge the finding through the applicable appeal process.
Facility Disputes State’s Conclusion
Covered Bridge owner Trista Barstow has challenged the state’s conclusion.
The facility argues that competent adult residents possess the legal right to make personal decisions, including choices involving alcohol, even when staff members disagree with those decisions.
Covered Bridge maintains that its responsibility is to educate residents about risks, monitor their condition and seek medical intervention when necessary. It says its individualized planning and documentation demonstrate a commitment to resident rights and safety.
The resident has also spoken in support of the facility and its approach to caring for people with severe alcohol dependence.
Those responses do not reverse the Department of Health finding. They do, however, underscore the legal and clinical tension that can arise when an adult resident’s autonomy conflicts with a facility’s responsibility to protect that person from foreseeable harm.
Minnesota Recently Changed Alcohol Rules
The incident has received additional attention because Minnesota recently changed its alcohol laws for nursing homes, boarding care homes and assisted-living facilities.
Qualifying facilities may serve alcohol to residents and their guests at organized events without obtaining a traditional liquor license when statutory requirements are satisfied.
The law does not eliminate a facility’s responsibility to supervise residents appropriately or comply with health and safety requirements.
The Minnesota Department of Health has clarified that alcohol service remains subject to resident-safety and supervision expectations. The Department of Public Safety retains regulatory authority over the alcohol-service provisions.
MinneapoliMedia will update this report if the facility’s appeal changes the state’s finding or produces additional evidence concerning the incident.
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