Private rehab treatment for alcohol or drug addiction can be expensive, and low-cost or free alternatives are seldom available. Many aren't aware of the right questions to ask, and how to compare more than one centre.
We've compiled this need-to-know guide, including questions to ask each clinic *before* you pay - including a printable cheatsheet.
Step 1 - Get Clear On Your Needs
Having newly made the life changing decision to get help can feel rejuvenating....as well as more than a little vulnerable. 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
Addiction treatment for alcohol or drugs usually starts with a detox, then therapy (rehab), followed by aftercare. But which of these is right for you?
- Unsure if you need detox, rehab, aftercare, or all 3?
Opting for the full package will provide more support, but think about if it's necessary.
Clinic Location
Thinking of treatment nearby? It's a natural response when feeling low.
Unless you're extremely unwell, consider anything up to 100 mile radius and focus instead on quality of care.
Most clinics provide standard detox protocols and some form of therapy. But will they still be supporting you after you leave the clinic? It pays to shop around here.
More Than One Previous Detox?
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.
Most clinics have standardised approaches for routine detoxes for alcohol etc, but anything more complex will need specialist input from suitably qualified professionals.
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
- How long should detox take, for me?
- Is dealing with someone with my intake level and addiction history, a normal everyday client for your clinic?
- Are there suitable staff in the clinic who are equipped to handle detox complications?
Step 2 - The Day To Day Inside A Clinic
Tell me about how treatment works.
Rehabilitation clinics operate a residential service - you stay residentially, in the clinic, 24hrs a day, usually with your own room and personal space.
Before admission, you should expect to complete an initial assessment over the phone with admissions staff, whose job it is to co-ordinate the information you provide with specialists inside the clinic, and ensure their facility can meet your needs.
The Plan For Treatment
After admission to a clinic, staff will usually look to plan out your care in the clinic, and how that will work, for you personally.
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.
Be sure to take an active part in this, to avoid having standardised goals laid out, that don't match your preferences or personal situation. Don't miss this bit out.
KEY QUESTIONS
- To what extent is my care and management planned and mapped out?
- How do I know if I'm on the right track, during treatment?
- Does care planning account for my detox needs, therapy needs, or both?
- Is there a member of staff assigned to me personally?
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.
Clinic operators must keep an entire group of clients on track every day. This can only be achieved when everyone works from the same daily schedule. This agenda is a good guide to what happens each day and what you'll be involved in.
Detox from alcohol or substance misuse in a clinic can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on multiple factors. The pace of your treatment can vary. For example, for those with lighter intake levels, progression beyond the detox phase of clinic work can happen in just a few days. Others may take much longer than this to progress. This level of variance between individuals is very normal.
Also, make sure to ask to arrange a visit to look around the clinic, first.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Do you have a virtual online tour I can take?
- Give me an idea of how each day is structured, whilst in treatment?
- 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
Recovering from addiction is a group-oriented exercise.
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
Whilst private clinics offer fast access to specialist help, financing the stay in treatment needs planning.
Public services are accountable to the tax payer, and seldom offer more specialist interventions.
If you're tempted to opt for the cheapest clinic straight away, think twice.
Instead, to keep costs reasonable but standards high, consider providers further afield, or smaller clinics with a lower headcount and rural location.
By calling and comparing a few treatment providers against each other, this step should give you a sense of what rehab will cost.
Other Ways To Get Help
Support In The Community
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.
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 at the early stages, it's important to get safe and comfortable professional help to detox.
Community Healthcare Options
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.
Families and friends often agree to jointly finance private treatment, in cases where no publicly funded options are available.
Step 4 - Find Objective Reviews
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.
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.
How Clinic Inspections Work
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 - Finalise The Details
It's now time to decide on one of the clinics you've looked at.
Expect to go through a few questions initially, when you call the provider you've chosen - this is normal.
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.
Now is also the time to finalise any other arrangements re payment, like paying via insurance policy.
Step 6 - Paying For Rehab
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.
It's less common nowadays to see treatment clinics themselves offering payment plan options.
Make sure to get an email confirmation of deposit paid, and confirmation of what happens next.
Outstanding Balance
The provider will likely ask you to settle the remainder of the treatment balance due, after arrival at the clinic.
To avoid excess charges later, it's best to settle this on time.
Step 7 - Admit to treatment
If you don't already have it, contact the admissions team and confirm your date and time of arrival.
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.
Take a well-deserved rest, as the road to recovery opens up before you.
Asking The Right Questions
Thank you for reading the ultimate guide to finding the right rehab treatment for Norton.
You'll find all the right questions to ask a treatment provider in our printable checklist.
Thanks for reading our ultimate guide to finding treatment help in Norton.
Abbeycare's UK clinics are available to those in Norton.
Thousands have already joined Abbeycare to overcome addiction, from every corner of the globe.
All that experience has helped us assist those with even the most complicated detox and rehab needs.
We can even arrange to assist with transport to the clinic (some extra charges do apply).
Check our independent inspection reports, available on our clinic pages for Scotland, and The Hygrove.
Our admissions team are ready to help.
Our medical team can assist you to detox, safely, and comfortably.
Our therapists are ready to help you get the insights you need, to stop the pattern of addiction, and reclaim your life.
The Abbeycare clinic team are ready to help you co-ordinate everything.
Are you ready?
Ready to get started? All calls are confidential. Ring direct on 01603 513 091.
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