Finding the right alcohol or drug rehab options for you or a loved one can be overwhelming - at a time of greatest need. Many aren't aware of the right questions to ask, and how to compare more than one centre.
Before taking the plunge, here's everything you need to know when shopping around for addiction help in Bragdy.
Step 1 - Understand What You Need
Having gone through months (years?) of denial, when we're ready for treatment, it's easy to rush ahead into the first detox provider you call. But, choosing the wrong provider early on, might mean drawing the wrong conclusions about recovery, and what's possible for your future.
Detox Only, Or A Complete Recovery Programme?
Whilst most follow the conventional programme of detox, then rehab, then aftercare, it's possible to do only one of these. But is it right for you?
- Do you need all three stages of treatment, detox > rehab > aftercare?
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.
Location, Location, Location?
Thinking of treatment nearby? It's a natural response when feeling low.
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? Researching the most appropriate option for you personally, can yield big long term results in your sobriety, later.
See all the locations Abbeycare serve, here.
Detox Requirements
The quality of support you receive from the clinic team, can make or break recovery results.
You'll want a clear idea here of what detox protocol you're getting, and what help is available during it.
Specific detoxes that may need more specialist intervention include high dose methadone transfers, multi-substance detoxes, or cases with previous hospital admission for addiction.
Likewise for therapeutic help, what specialist qualifications in addiction do the team have? Ask here about issues that have been sticking points for you in the past, and their suitability to help.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Do you foresee any complications with my detox?
- What professionals in the clinic are admininstering detox?
- My case is complex- what happens in the event of complications?
Step 2 - Behind The Scenes In An Addiction Treatment Clinic
How does admitting to rehab work?
You'll stay full time in a clinic, normally with a dedicated room and your own space, complete detox, and attend therapeutic sessions several times a week. Towards the end of your stay, the clinic should set up supports for the future. More about that later.
The provider you're working with should ask you some questions over the phone to make sure you're a good match - it's important to give honest answers, to avoid complications later.
The Plan For Treatment
Whilst all clinics operate a group environment generally, most should look to help you keep track of your progress, and monitor treatment goals reached.
In the best clinics, where personal attention is high, you'll work with an assigned case manager, throughout your stay, who should help you draw up a care plan, in this way.
This document will be used as your yardstick to measure progress and keep track. It's worth making the effort here.
KEY QUESTIONS
- To what extent is my care and management planned and mapped out?
- Do you have a one size fits all approach to treatment, or do you work with each individual's needs?
- Does care planning account for my detox needs, therapy needs, or both?
- Is there a member of staff assigned to me personally?
What Actually Happens Inside A Clinic?
What is it like being in a rehab clinic?
It can be tricky to discern exactly what happens each day in treatment, as the routine can vary.
Since residential rehab is a group environment, most clinics provide each client with a daily agenda, every night for the following day. This lays out the timetable of events, and what's expected.
The normal first stage of treatment is detox. Getting clear of the physical effects of alcohol or substance misuse in detox could take 3-6 days, for lighter use cases. Others may take 7 days or longer. This variation is natural.
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
- How can I see what's inside the clinic, online?
- Do you have sample daily agendas for treatment I can look at?
- Can I arrange a visit to the clinic, to look around, without obligation, before committing?
- When do you expect me to start taking part in the therapy process?
Addiction Treatment & Covid-19
Few people successfully make it into long term recovery without the help of the bigger group around them.
In fact, a big part of recovering in the longer term, is re-learning to interact with others, and break the old patterns of isolation.
But making headway in your recovery, at the expense of other health factors, won't help anyone.
Step 3 - Planning A Budget For Rehab
Getting funds together for rehab in Bragdy takes planning, for most families.
The differences between public and private options are vast.
As you can imagine, the cheapest provider is not always the best.
Cheap providers often involve minimal rooms or living conditions, and poor therapy. Look instead for smaller providers, with more personal attention.
Get a rough indication of costs at this stage by calling a few clinics direct and make it clear your call is just an initial enquiry, to avoid over-committing to one provider too early.
Alternative Options
Support In The Community
Most cities and towns across the world play host to mutual aid style meetings locally, like the 12 step driven groups of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
However, specialist medical help will be required to kick start the journey with detox, which cannot be obtained via such community groups.
Community support is invaluable, at the right stage in the process. But initially, it's important to get professional help to detox safely, and comfortably.
Public Healthcare For Addiction
In the first instance, it's possible to present to your GP and discuss the possibility of referral to your local addictions team, in the NHS. They will usually help you monitor the effects of addiction in your life, but are unable to refer or provide funding for immediate detox, in most cases.
Usually, only the more complex cases with a long history of addiction are considered for placement into specialist detox units.
In reality, where the need for detox is urgent, we often see families and groups of friends pooling funds together, to help a loved one access treatment faster, from a private provider.
Step 4 - Read The Reviews
Review platforms are widespread nowadays and some reviews are not always trustworthy.
Arm yourself from the outset, with the *only* truly impartial consumer report available for private clinics - the Care Quality Commission (England & Wales) and/or Care Inspectorate (Scotland) inspection reports.
The CQC and The Care Inspectorate are the industry regulators, and complete routine inspections of private rehabs, which are often classified under the 'Care Homes' category, in their records.
This includes feedback on staffing, care and support levels, management, and environment.
Regulatory Inspections - Keynotes
When looking for CQC or Care Inspectorate reports, always look for those stating the visit was "Unannounced" instead of "Announced" - this means the provider was not aware the inspection was occurring, and hence is most likely to provide most insight into genuine standards of care.
Step 5 - Arrange Admission
At this point, you've got enough info to decide on one of the clinics you've seen.
When you call the admissions team for the clinic you’ve chosen, expect to go through an initial telephone assessment, and pay a deposit towards treatment, as explained above.
A telephone assessment might last up to 30 minutes, after which the provider will likely request you to pay a deposit towards treatment, so that they can progress further with your admission.
Now is also the time to finalise any other arrangements re payment, like paying via insurance policy.
Step 6 - Funding Your Stay
As mentioned, paying a deposit secures your room in the clinic, prior to arrival.
Most clinics will expect a deposit of £2,000 or more.
Not many clinics remain, who offer finance payment plans, directly.
An email confirmation of your booking is usually sent to you, confirming the next steps.
The Remaining Funding
Treatment providers will expect payment for the remainder of the balance of treatment, upon arrival the clinic.
It's a good idea to pay this promptly, to avoid excess charges.
Step 7 - Admission
Now it's time for the practical stuff of admitting. Double check you have a note of your confirmed date and time your due to admit to the clinic.
Most clinics will expect you to pack these basics:
Your booking confirmation or documentation received should note guidance on extras such as internet usage, family visits, and precautions or special measures in place as a result of covid-19.
Do you have transport to the clinic organised? Making sure of this will help avoid any potential extra charges levied for late arrival.
Take a well-deserved rest, as the road to recovery opens up before you.
The Top Questions To Ask
Thanks so much for reading the ultimate guide on finding rehab treatment in Bragdy.
You've completed our guide on finding the right rehab near Bragdy!
Abbeycare have central UK locations, and serve the Bragdy area.
We've helped hundreds (thousands probably) move beyond addiction, and start a new life.
All these years we've stuck to the basics that work - structured detox, therapy, and aftercare solutions that help get folks back on track.
Even if you're not local, we can still help with transport into treatment (full transparency - some costs do apply).
Our clinic inspection reports are available on the relevent service pages: Abbeycare Scotland, Abbeycare Gloucester.
Abbeycare admissions team can advise on options that suit your needs.
Detox is possible, safely and comfortably, 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.
Are you ready?
If you're ready for help, call our admissions team direct, on 01603 513 091.
