Half of care homes have an area where residents can drink alcohol

Half of care homes have an area where residents can drink alcohol, survey reveals 

• Survey asked care home managers and staff about their alcohol policies
• 44 per cent said their care home had a bar or drinking area for residents
• One in six said no limit about how much alcohol residents could drink 

Many care homes have a bar or an area where residents can drink alcohol, an industry survey has revealed.

And one in six care workers said there was no limit on how much people living there were allowed to drink.

The survey quizzed more than 2,000 care home owners, managers and staff about policies on alcohol consumption.

The survey quizzed more than 2,000 care home owners, managers and staff about policies on alcohol consumption. File photo 

Almost half (44 per cent) said their care home had a bar or drinking area for residents.

But 56 per cent said there was no facility where they worked, and 21 per cent said alcohol was not permitted on the premises.

The staff survey found one in four of the elderly residents at care homes never drink. But among those that do, the most popular tipple for men is beer, while women prefer wine.

Sue Learner, editor of review website Carehome.co.uk, which carried out the survey, said it was encouraging so many homes had a bar area. 

‘Life can continue for people when they go into residential care,’ she added.

‘Going to the pub is a fun and sociable experience. It is good people can still enjoy a chat over a pint of beer and feel they are living a “normal life”.’

The staff survey found one in four of the elderly residents at care homes never drink. File photo 

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