Private rehab treatment for alcohol or drug addiction can be expensive, and low-cost or free alternatives are seldom available. Choosing the wrong provider can mean serious consequences for future sobriety, relationships, and family life.
Before taking the plunge, here's everything you need to know when shopping around for addiction help in Aberbargoed.
Step 1 - Get Clear On Your Needs
There are a wealth of treatment options available for those fresh to the journey of recovery. Get off to the right start by deciding first what you need - detox, rehab, or both?
Detox .v. Rehab
A normal stay for alcohol or drug treatment would include the three stages of detoxification, rehabilitation, and aftercare planning. But there's no point in spending more than you have to.
- Have you tried treatment previously, without success? Or even, tried going it alone without professional help? It's important to be clear on this.
Be honest with yourself here, as going the detox-only route initially, when underlying work is truly needed, often ends in paying for treatment twice, not once.
When Is Close To Home, Too Close To Home?
Understandably, when feeling low and needing detox, most will opt for a clinic close to where they live.
But the provider on your doorstep doesn't necessarily provide the best overall value, in the context of your entire recovery journey.
Most clinics provide standard detox protocols and some form of therapy. But will they still be supporting you after you leave the clinic? We're getting to the real questions here about standard of care delivered, instead of just the bare minimum.
See all the locations Abbeycare serve, here.
If You Have Complex Needs
Like many things in life, the quality of your experience in a rehab clinic can come down to the breadth and depth of experience of the staff you're working with.
You'll want a clear idea here of what detox protocol you're getting, and what help is available during it.
Most clinics have standardised approaches for routine detoxes for alcohol etc, but anything more complex will need specialist input from suitably qualified professionals.
Ask around to find a clinic with professionals who have experience in detoxing your substance type specifically, e.g. a high dose methadone detox is complex, and should be undertaken only by professionals with substantial experience.
KEY QUESTIONS
- In your experience, would someone with my detox needs be better suited for hospital detox?
- What professionals in the clinic are admininstering detox?
- Are there suitable staff in the clinic who are equipped to handle detox complications?
Step 2 - The Rehab Need-To-Knows
How does admitting to rehab work?
Rehabilitation clinics operate a residential service - you stay residentially, in the clinic, 24hrs a day, usually with your own room and personal space.
The clinic you enquire with, have to make sure they can look after you and your needs for detox and rehab. They'll ask some standard questions about your usage, and history with addiction. This is normal, and it's important for them to rule out extreme cases where their environment may not be safe, or provide a comfortable detox experience.
Keeping Track Of Getting Better
If your clinic provides strong personal attention in the programme, they should help you map out what you want from treatment, exactly.
If staff do not offer to help draw up a personalised care plan of action for your clinic time, and longer recovery journey, you've chosen the wrong provider.
This document will be used as your yardstick to measure progress and keep track. Don't miss this bit out.
KEY QUESTIONS
- What sort of care planning takes place when I enter the clinic?
- How do I know if I'm on the right track, during treatment?
- What will my care plan include?
- How is my treatment regimen communicated between staff members?
What Actually Happens Inside A Clinic?
What actually happens in a clinic, every day?
Without actually being in the clinic, the closest you can get is to ask questions about the daily experience of life in the clinic.
Private clinics are normally group oriented. Consistency can be maintained by everyone sharing in the same day structure, usually in the form of an agenda. This will give a clear indication of what activities happen when, where, and what's expected of you.
Detox from alcohol or substance misuse in a clinic can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on multiple factors. Getting clear of the physical effects of alcohol or substance misuse in detox could take 3-6 days, for lighter use cases. Sometimes it will take longer than this to get a clear head again. Clinic staff understand this.
Always enquire about having a look around the clinic, by visiting first, before committing. Most clinics don't have an open-door policy, but will happily let you see inside, by arrangement.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Can I see a virtual tour of the clinic, before committing?
- Do you have sample daily agendas for treatment I can look at?
- How do I arrange to see inside the clinic, before admitting?
- When do I get to start taking part in the therapeutic help inside the clinic?
Addiction Treatment & Covid-19
Few people successfully make it into long term recovery without the help of the bigger group around them.
Those in long term recovery achieved it, only by accepting help from others, and helping them, in return.
Achieving recovery in a covid-19 world, however, means making some accommodations along the way.
Step 3 - Managing The Budget For Treatment
Naturally, funding private rehab treatment in Aberbargoed is a concern for many.
The differences between public and private options are vast.
Automatically choosing the lowest price provider can lead to poor care levels inside the clinic, detrimental to your recovery progress.
Double check standards of care and therapy provided for lower cost providers - you may be surprised. Opt instead for a middle-tier clinic, with a better balance of cost to care levels provided.
Call round a few providers, using our cheatsheet if needed - and get a feel for pricing, and whether they can meet your needs comfortably. Don't commit to anything just yet.
Looking Beyond Clinic Treatment
Community-Led Support Channels
Big Book, or 12 step meetings, are available via groups such as AA and NA, across most towns and cities.
Whilst mutual aid plays a big part for many, later in their recovery journey, those at the start will need professional help to detox safely.
Mutual aid meetings have earned their place in everyone's recovery. But for short term help for detox, you'll need professional assistance.
NHS/Public Funding Options
Whilst the NHS do have addiction keyworkers in different regions, they’re normally overrun with enquiries and demand on resources, meaning obtaining funding for a rehab stay is unlikely.
Eligibility for short term detox is slim, and is usually restricted to only a handful of cases.
Where no public healthcare short term options are viable, or where the individual doesn't have enough funding in place for treatment, we often see families and friends pooling together to finance detox for a loved one.
Step 4 - Get Impartial Consumer Reports
Assessing a provider's standard of care is important - but can be tricky for the layman.
Our heroes here are the industry watchdogs - The Care Commission, and The Care Inspectorate.
These two regulators ensure clinics are up to scratch, and send written reports to clinics with their findings, on how they can improve their service, and potential penalties, if they don't comply.
Clinics are reviewed on quality and expertise of their service, staff, and care levels provided.
Clinic Inspections - What You Need to Know
In some visits, the provider is made aware in advance, that the inspection is occuring - these are what's known as "Announced" inspections. Other times, inspection teams show up without warning - these are "Unannounced" inspections - therefore, to get the most reliable information, look for reports which state the inspection was Unannounced.
Step 5 - Choose A Clinic
Now that you've read up, and compared a few clinics, it's time to arrange admission.
It's not uncommon at this point, for the provider to take you a through a number of pre-admission questions, as they have to ensure your suitable for the clinic and its environment.
An assessment shouldn’t normally take more than 20 minutes, after which you can pay any required financial deposit over the phone and expect some form of booking confirmation and receipt of payment.
Now is also the time to finalise any other arrangements re payment, like paying via insurance policy.
Step 6 - Arranging Payment
As mentioned above, paying a deposit means the clinic can prepare for your arrival, and allocate your room booking.
The deposit could be anywhere from £500 - £3,000, depending on specifics. Most clinics accept payment over the phone by card.
You won't find many clinics offering payment options directly, unfortunately.
You should expect some kind of booking confirmation from the provider, usually by email, after any deposit or balance payment is made.
Remaining Balance
Clinics will normally expect payment of the remaining balance of treatment, upon arrival and admission to the clinic, so be prepared to make a payment at this time.
Pay this on time to avoid surcharges that could quickly mount up later.
Step 7 - Admit to treatment
By now, you should have an agreed time and date of arrival at a clinic.
Bring along a few supplies with you, like those below. You should be able to arrange for anything else, after arrival.
Make sure to check paperwork for any restrictions on device usage (not all clinics allow this), internet access, and visits from family.
Make sure to finalise transport arrangements a few days in advance, to ensure you attend the clinic on time, and avoid any surcharges on delays on treatment.
At this point, congratulations! Your recovery journey has already begun.
Are You Asking The Right Questions?
Thank you for reading the ultimate guide to finding the right rehab treatment for Aberbargoed.
Abbeycare have provided this guide free of charge, to help you make the right decision when considering addiction rehab treatment options.
Help for addiction is available at Abbeycare's UK clinics.
Since 2005, we've been helping thousands to overcome addiction, comfortably, and safely.
All that experience has helped us assist those with even the most complicated detox and rehab needs.
Not nearby? No problem, we can arrange transport too, in many cases.
Our clinic inspection reports are available on the relevent service pages: Abbeycare Scotland, Abbeycare Gloucester.
Our admissions team are ready to listen to your needs.
Detox is available, with comfort and safety, with the help of our medical team.
Our addiction specialist therapists can help you overcome the underlying issues of addiction.
Our clinic team are ready to help you get started.
Now....are you ready?
If you're ready for help, call our admissions team direct, on 01603 513 091.
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