I worked in an assisted living facility and I had the same concerns there. I was told it was suppose to resemble a "home environment" and did not have alot of the regulations that nursing homes have. They served wonderful meals, full of fat content and salty foods even tho alot of the patients had high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels and were on medications for theses. . They passed salty and sweet snacks at hs, again with patients with high blood pressure and diabetes. But mostly I disagreed with their weekly wine and cheese party. Like you said, alot of the medications were contraindicated with alcohol. I even went so far as to make a list of the patients and their medications that weren't suppose to be taken with alcohol. It was ignored. The patients wants and desires came first. I eventually left because of some of these real concerns.

I agree with all of your comments. Seems to me that as Nurses we are obligated to do what is right and prudent for our patients. I have on more than one occasion,refused to give my patients alcohol in any form without a doctors prescription. That way it keeps us out of the middle and puts the responsibility right where it belongs.Right in the Doc's lap. After all alcohol can be considered in certain circumstances as a drug. Would you give a ATB without a script? The same hold true for the Diabetics and concentrated sweets and salt for the patient with hthd. If the Administration wants to pass out cheesecake etc for desert to All the patients ,then give me a script permitting it. Now I'll get off my soap box.....Aloha....