Finding the right alcohol or drug rehab options for you or a loved one can be overwhelming - at a time of greatest need. It's easy to end up paying too much for a treatment clinic that underdelivers.
Before taking the plunge, here's everything you need to know when shopping around for addiction help in Caerleon.
Step 1 - Detox .v. Rehab
When you or a loved one are finally ready for help, it can be tempting to pick up the phone and sign up for the first rehab clinic you can find. But considering first, what your treatment needs truly are, can help you pay for rehab just once, and not twice.
Detox-Only, Versus Full Rehabilitation 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 detox, or rehab? It's important to be clear on this.
Does Insurance Cover Outpatient Addiction Treatment?
Committing unnecessarily to all 3 stages of treatment may see you paying too much, but not having enough support down the line could also mean paying the cost of rehab again.
Clinic Location
Understandably, when feeling low and needing detox, most will opt for a clinic close to where they live.
Unless you're extremely unwell, consider anything up to 100 mile radius and focus instead on quality of care.
Detox beds can be found in hospitals, and virtually any clinic. But does their long term support match your needs in the longer term? It pays to shop around here.
See all the locations Abbeycare serve, here.
Previous/Complex Detoxes
The quality of support you receive from the clinic team, can make or break recovery results.
Multiple previous detoxes, or challenging liver issues, should mean you're extra careful that the clinic can accommodate your needs, both safely, and comfortably.
Specific detoxes that may need more specialist intervention include high dose methadone transfers, multi-substance detoxes, or cases with previous hospital admission for addiction.
Ask if the clinic you're dealing with has specialist professionals who've delivered your detox in the past, and with what results.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Can you easily accommodate my detox needs?
- What professionals in the clinic are admininstering detox?
- If there are unexpected issues during my detox, what happens?
Step 2 - The Day To Day Inside A 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.
Mapping Out Needs And Treatment Goals
Whilst all clinics operate a group environment generally, most should look to help you keep track of your progress, and monitor treatment goals reached.
A care plan, lays out in detail, how your stay will proceed, what targets you have for treatment, and how you'll measure them. Clinic addiction specialists (ideally assigned only to you) should help you prepare this and use it as a tool throughout your stay.
Whilst not the most exciting part of the journey, this is a necessary means to help you monitor progress toward your long term vision. Don't miss this bit out.
KEY QUESTIONS
- What sort of care planning takes place when I enter the clinic?
- How do clinic staff know they're doing a good job at helping clients achieve recovery?
- Do you take account of my history of addiction when making treatment care plans?
- How is care planning done?
A Day In The Life
Tell me about the daily routine in treatment?
It can be tricky to discern exactly what happens each day in treatment, as the routine can vary.
Every day new clients enter treatment and previous ones leave. Although everyone is at different stages of treatment, providers must keep everyone on track. This means preparing and issuing a daily agenda. This lays out the timetable of events, and what's expected.
The time it takes to feel better at the initial stages of treatment is personal to each individual. Depending on usage levels, many will be able to progress to the next stage of treatment after just a few days. Sometimes it will take longer than this to get a clear head again. This variation is natural.
Visiting the clinic before committing to treatment will also help you gauge just what the everyday is like, inside a centre, before committing financially.
KEY QUESTIONS
- How can I see what's inside the clinic, online?
- Do I take part in daily activities even during detox?
- Is it possible to arrange a pre-admission visit, to look around? Is there any charge attached?
- When do I get to start taking part in the therapeutic help inside the clinic?
Addiction Treatment & Covid-19
Since rehab treatment is usually a communal environment, you should expect to have to accommodate others on the journey.
Those in long term recovery achieved it, only by accepting help from others, and helping them, in return.
But making headway in your recovery, at the expense of other health factors, won't help anyone.
Step 3 - Rehab On A Budget
Whilst private clinics offer fast access to specialist help, financing the stay in treatment needs planning.
The ability of third sector or voluntary organisations to deal with more complex detox needs is usually slim - it's worth looking into this though.
Like most things in life, it's tempting to go for simply the cheapest cost provider.
Cheap providers often involve minimal rooms or living conditions, and poor therapy. Look instead for smaller providers, with more personal attention.
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.
Other Ways To Get Help
Mutual Aid Support
12 step support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are usually available in most locations, although meetings have largely shifted towards online now, in the wake of covid issues.
If you're just starting out in recovery though, detoxing comfortably first, will undoubtedly be the priority.
Community support is invaluable, at the right stage in the process. But the first stage of help - physically detoxing - will need more specialist care.
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.
This is not a question of lack of intention to help, but more of resources and strain the healthcare system experiences, under heavy demand.
More often, where a genuine need for short term detox exists, it's more common to see loved ones and family pulling funds together to help someone get help.
Step 4 - Read The Only Impartial Reports
Review platforms are widespread nowadays and some reviews are not always trustworthy.
Our heroes here are the industry watchdogs - The Care Commission, and The Care Inspectorate.
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.
Clinics are graded across multiple areas of care, including support standards, management, and clinical environment.
Regulatory Reviews - The Need To Knows
On paper, a visit by regulators to a clinic can be "Announced", or "Unannounced" - the former means the clinic knew about the inspection in advance, the latter means they didn't. Hence, "Unannounced" inspection reports are more likely to provide a real-world picture of clinic conditions and service levels.
Step 5 - Choose A Clinic
At this point, you've got enough info to decide on one of the clinics you've seen.
Normally, the provider will take you through a few initial questions, when you call, to make sure you're a good fit, and will work well together.
After the assessment is complete, the clinic will start making preparations for your stay - to do this, they'll need some commitment from you, in the form of a deposit payment - this holds the room in your name, and allows the team to start making arrangements.
If you’re paying via an insurance policy, this is the time that will get sorted out also.
Step 6 - Paying For Rehab
As above, expect to pay a deposit prior to admission.
Most clinics will expect a deposit of £2,000 or more.
The days of clinics offering finance facilities directly, are mostly gone, although a few do still offer in-house plans to pay for treatment.
An email confirmation of your booking is usually sent to you, confirming the next steps.
Outstanding Balance
The balance to pay for treatment, if not paying via insurance or a third party, is usually due when you arrive to admit to the clinic.
It's a good idea to pay this promptly, to avoid excess charges.
Step 7 - Admitting To A Clinic
If you don't already have it, contact the admissions team and confirm your date and time of arrival.
Pack enough essentials for your treatment duration, like:
Make sure to check paperwork for any restrictions on device usage (not all clinics allow this), internet access, and visits from family.
Most clinics have a busy schedule and making sure you arrive on time is important. Getting your means of transport to the clinic organised ahead of time, will ensure things are effortless, on the day.
From this point on, your recovery journey has begun!
Asking The Right Questions
Thank you for reading the ultimate guide to finding the right rehab treatment for Caerleon.
Abbeycare have provided this guide free of charge, to help you make the right decision when considering addiction rehab treatment options.
Abbeycare operate UK clinics providing help for alcohol or drug addiction for those in the Caerleon area.
We've helped thousands overcome their addiction to alcohol or drugs.
In these last 15 years, our experience has gone from strength to strength.
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.
Our admissions team can advise on what options are available.
The Abbeycare medical team can help you detox comfortably.
Our therapists are ready to help you get the insights you need, to stop the pattern of addiction, and reclaim your life.
Our clinical team are ready to help you start the journey.
Are you ready?
If you're ready for help, call our admissions team direct, on 01603 513 091.
