For most, finding the right help for alcohol or drug issues in Llanelli, is confusing and difficult. Many aren't aware of the right questions to ask, and how to compare more than one centre.
Our guide includes advice on how to weigh providers against each other, and a printable Q&A for when you speak with treatment clinics direct. Let's get started.
Step 1 - What Do You Need?
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 use your needs, and past experience, first and foremost, as your guide to what treatment will work best.
Detox .v. Rehab
Some providers can try to sell Rehab, and even Aftercare, upfront, before you've even started treatment, but do you really need all these?
- Have you been detoxed before? (Be honest).
You could go for a detox-only programme, but run greater risk of future relapse if other supports are not in place.
Clinic Location
Amongst the concerns we hear each day, the location of the clinic is one of the most common. But sometimes, you can be too close to home.
Unless you're extremely unwell, consider anything up to 100 mile radius and focus instead on quality of care.
Clinics have to pass muster with regulators re the basics of detox and rehab, but how supportive is their team? What is the staff:client numbers ratio? What happens if you struggle in future? It pays to shop around 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.
The clinic team over the phone should be able to give a rough indication of how they'll approach your treatment.
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
- Are you a rehab clinic, or a hospital?
- Do you have specialist addiction medics prescribing detox?
- If I have questions about my specific detox needs, who would I speak to?
Step 2 - The Day To Day Inside A Clinic
How does admitting to rehab work?
For in-patient treatment stays, you'll have your own room in the clinic, where you stay, live and sleep, for anywhere from 7-84 days or more (28 days is the average stay).
Expect to complete a pre-admissions screening process over the phone - this is quite normal.
Keeping Track Of Getting Better
Clients are normally encouraged to actively monitor their progress towards recovery treatment goals and outcomes.
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.
Whilst not the most exciting part of the journey, this is a necessary means to help you monitor progress toward your long term vision. It's worth making the effort here.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Is the care planning the same for every client, or is it personalised to me?
- Do you have a one size fits all approach to treatment, or do you work with each individual's needs?
- Is care planning done for me, or is it collaborative?
- Is there a member of staff assigned to me personally?
What's Rehab Treatment Like, Day To Day?
Tell me about the daily routine in treatment?
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. The agenda lets you know what's happening when, and what activities you should participate in.
The time it takes to feel better at the initial stages of treatment is personal to each individual. Some will be ready to start therapeutic work after just a few days. Other times, it takes longer for the body to process the left-over substances. 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
- Is it possible to see internal photos of the centre, before admitting?
- 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?
Rehab & Covid-19
They say, that rehab and recovery are team sports.
Only with the support of others on the journey, can we hope to make a full recovery.
But recovery gains can only be made safely, with consideration to other health factors, in the bigger picture.
Step 3 - Planning The Financials Of Rehab
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.
There are few half way house providers that exist generally, between public providers, and private treatment, so get clear from the start on which you need.
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.
Without committing yet, get in touch with at least 3 potential treatment centres and ask about costs and your needs. You'll also get some insight here as to how much attention each provider pays and their levels of care.
Options Beyond Rehab
Community-Led Support Channels
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.
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.
Local mutual aid meetings *can* be a huge help, and can be a source of potential sponsors and sober mentors for the future. But starting out - you'll need more specialist help for detox.
Public Healthcare For Addiction
Obtaining short-term detox from NHS services is unlikely, due to demand on resources.
Hospital or clinic based detox places strain on resources and funding, and is usually only available for extreme cases.
Families and friends often agree to jointly finance private treatment, in cases where no publicly funded options are available.
Step 4 - Find Objective Reviews
While many providers will claim to show many positive reviews, their legitimacy is not always clear.
The industry regulators - the Care Quality Commission in England & Wales, and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, publish the only independent reporting on standards available, for private rehab clinics.
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 Inspections - Keynotes
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 - Arrange Admission
With the homework all done, it's time to get serious about arranging treatment at one of the providers you've shortlisted.
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.
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.
Take the opportunity at this point to arrange payment via insurance policy, if applicable.
Step 6 - Paying For Rehab
As mentioned, paying a deposit secures your room in the clinic, prior to arrival.
Expect to pay anywhere from £1,800 to £4,000 to book a place in a treatment provider's clinic.
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.
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 a good idea to pay this promptly, to avoid excess charges.
Step 7 - Admission Into Treatment
Make note of the day and time you're due to admit to treatment.
You'll usually be asked to bring certain essentials with you:
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.
And of course, enjoy your recovery!
Easy Rehab Q&A Cheatsheet
Thank you for reading the ultimate guide to finding the right rehab treatment for Llanelli.
We’ve compiled the top questions to ask a provider, in one easy to print PDF to have handy when you ring clinics.
Download it on our main guide page here (direct download - no sign up required). You can download it here.
Thanks for reading our ultimate guide to finding treatment help in Llanelli.
Abbeycare's UK clinics have been helping those in Llanelli.
We've worked with thousands from all over the world, and we can probably help you too.
In our 15 years, we've worked with even the most complex detoxes, needs, and issues.
We can even arrange to assist with transport to the clinic (some extra charges do apply).
Our inspection reports from the regulators, are available on our clinic pages, here: Abbeycare Scotland, Abbeycare Hygrove.
Our admissions team are ready to listen to your needs.
Our medical team are ready to 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 clinic team - many of them in recovery personally - are ready to get you started.
Now....are you ready?
To get your questions answered, or to get started in recovery, our team can help, on 01603 513 091.
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