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.
If you're considering expensive rehab treatment - read our need-to-knows before taking the plunge.
Step 1 - Detox .v. Rehab
Having newly made the life changing decision to get help can feel rejuvenating....as well as more than a little vulnerable. But spending just a little time getting clear on what you truly need, can save a costly mistake.
What are the clues that an alcohol detox is needed?
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?
- Have you been detoxed before?
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.
Rehab In The Right Place
Caught up in the need for detox, many will commit too early to a clinic as close as possible to home, without thinking ahead.
But the provider on your doorstep doesn't necessarily provide the best overall value, in the context of your entire recovery journey.
Detox beds can be found in hospitals, and virtually any clinic. But does their long term support match your needs in the longer term? 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
Making sure you're getting the right support, can have a serious impact on long term results.
This can be especially important where you have complex drug or alcohol detox needs.
The clinic team over the phone should be able to give a rough indication of how they'll approach your treatment.
Getting reassurance that the provider is not only ready to detox you based on your needs, but has done so many times for others in the past, is important.
KEY QUESTIONS
- How long should detox take, for me?
- Do you have specialist addiction medics prescribing detox?
- My case is complex- what happens in the event of complications?
Step 2 - What Does A Stay In Rehab Actually Involve?
What should I expect, inside an addiction clinic?
Rehab clinics are not hospitals with shared wards - you'd normally have your own room in the clinic for the length of your stay. Some clinics also offer shared rooms - although this has become less common since the advent of coronavirus.
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.
How Do I Monitor Progress?
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.
Together you'll map out key milestones, while accounting for past addictive patterns and behaviours. It's worth making the effort here.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Do you provide a written plan for me to follow, during treatment?
- How do I know if I'm on the right track, during treatment?
- Do you take account of my history of addiction when making treatment care plans?
- Am I passed from one staff member to another, as shifts change?
A Day In The Life
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.
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 will give a clear indication of what activities happen when, where, and what's expected of you.
The time it takes to feel better at the initial stages of treatment is personal to each individual. Detox could last just a few days. Others may take much longer than this to progress. Clinic staff understand this.
Arranging a visit to the clinic, before committing any funding, can help reassure you of standards of care, and avoid a costly mistake. Ask about this.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Is it possible to see internal photos of the centre, before admitting?
- Do I take part in daily activities even during detox?
- Do you offer the opportunity to look around the clinic before admitting?
- When would I be expected to move from detox into therapy in the clinic?
Rehab & Covid-19
Since rehab treatment is usually a communal environment, you should expect to have to accommodate others on the journey.
Gains achieved during treatment can be amplified by the help of the peer group around you.
But doing so safely, in the age of Covid-19, means ensuring the clinic you choose has provisions in place to guard against risk of infection.
Step 3 - Managing The Budget For Treatment
Public health services are usually free, but rarely provide detox, or speedy access to treatment. Private providers are more specialist, with a joined up approach, but come at a cost.
Public services are accountable to the tax payer, and seldom offer more specialist interventions.
Your mental health matters, and because of the costs involved, it's easy to opt for a very low end provider, with minimal support. Not always a great idea.
Working with minimalist care, in a clinic with spartan conditions is not conducive to personal breakthroughs. Instead, look for alternative providers with smaller programmes, headcount, and overheads, to strike the right balance.
By calling and comparing a few treatment providers against each other, this step should give you a sense of what rehab will cost.
Options Beyond Rehab
Mutual Aid Support
Even since covid-19, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups are still available, although most have now adopted online platforms to hold meetings, these can still be a rich source of support.
For most at the start of the recovery journey though, detox options are a very real need, and not something that can be obtained without more specialist help.
AA, NA, and the big book groups have millions of followers and attendees, and have been very successful over the years. But initially, it's important to get professional help to detox safely, and comfortably.
NHS Assistance
Obtaining short-term detox from NHS services is unlikely, due to demand on resources.
Usually, only the more complex cases with a long history of addiction are considered for placement into specialist detox units.
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
Opinions on different clinics' standards of care are ten a penny on the internet, but how do you know who to trust?
In these situations we need an independent and impartial regulator's opinion - in this case, The Care Quality Commission (CQC) for England and Wales, and The Care Inspectorate, for Scotland.
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
It's now time to decide on one of the clinics you've looked at.
The clinic team will ask you to complete a telephone questionnaire, to make sure they can meet your needs.
When the assessment is complete, you'll likely be asked to pay a deposit, to book a place in the clinic, and allow the provider to start preparing for your arrival.
Take the opportunity at this point to arrange payment via insurance policy, if applicable.
Step 6 - Deposits & Paying For Treatment
As mentioned, an initial deposit payment is usually expected.
Because the total booking value is high, even a small percentage deposit could work out anywhere from £2,000 - £4,000 for the higher end providers.
You won't find many clinics offering payment options directly, unfortunately.
Be sure to get a written confirmation of receipt for your deposit, and confirm with the provider any admin fees due, in the event of admission delays, or even cancellation, due to unforeseen circumstances.
Paying For The Rest Of Treatment
The provider will likely ask you to settle the remainder of the treatment balance due, after arrival at the clinic.
It’s worth making the effort to settle this on time, as some providers can levy surcharges for late payment, and this quickly adds up, on larger balances.
Step 7 - Get Started
Did you get a booking confirmation, containing the practical details, like date and time you're due to arrive for treatment? If not, request one now.
Most clinics will expect you to pack these basics:
Check your booking confirmation for advice about mobile phone usage, internet access, visits, leisure facilities, and any special arrangements for covid-19.
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.
At this point, congratulations! Your recovery journey has already begun.
Asking The Right Questions
Thank you for reading the ultimate guide to finding the right rehab treatment for Llandudno.
Thanks for reading our ultimate guide to finding treatment help in Llandudno.
Abbeycare have central UK locations, and serve the Llandudno 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 need transport arranged to get here, we can probably help with that too.
Our inspection reports from the regulators, are available on our clinic pages, here: Abbeycare Scotland, Abbeycare Gloucester.
Our admissions team are ready to listen to your needs.
Our medical team can assist you to detox, safely, and comfortably.
Our therapy team are available, to help you identify triggers, patterns, and start truly overcoming them.
The Abbeycare clinic team are ready to help you co-ordinate everything.
Are you ready for recovery?
To ask a question, or to arrange admission, ring our team now on 01603 513 091.
