If you're looking for drug or alcohol addiction help - you'll have already realised the myriad of options on offer. 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 Pembroke Dock.
Step 1 - Get Clear On Your Needs
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 spending just a little time getting clear on what you truly need, can save a costly mistake.
Detox & Rehab: Short Term .v. Long Term
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 truthful).
Opting for the full package will provide more support, but think about if it's necessary.
Finding Rehab Near Pembroke Dock
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? Just a few minutes work here, can pay off down the line.
See all the locations Abbeycare serve, here.
More Than One Previous Detox?
Getting the right help means being picky about the support you'll receive while in treatment.
You'll want a clear idea here of what detox protocol you're getting, and what help is available during it.
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
- Are you a rehab clinic, or a hospital?
- What addiction experience do your prescribing professionals have?
- Will I be able to speak with someone who decides about my detox regimen, once admitted to the clinic?
Step 2 - Get The Low Down On What Happens Inside The 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.
Mapping Out Needs And Treatment Goals
Reputable clinics will try to personalise the care you receive, as far as possible.
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.
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. Any input at this stage will likely pay dividends later.
KEY QUESTIONS
- To what extent is my care and management planned and mapped out?
- How do you help clients measure goals and progress?
- Is care planning done for me, or is it collaborative?
- Is there continuity whilst in treatment, of who I deal with, each day?
Life Inside The Clinic
What's the daily routine, inside a rehab, during treatment?
The structure of each day will vary of course, from one provider to the next.
Since residential rehab is a group environment, most clinics provide each client with a daily agenda, every night for the following day. This agenda is a good guide to what happens each day and what you'll be involved in.
Factors such as previous detoxes, history of relapse, amount and duration of intake, and others, will determine how long the detox stage of treatment takes. Some will be ready to start therapeutic work after just a few days. Others may take much longer than this to progress. This is normal.
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
- How can I see what's inside the clinic, online?
- Do you have sample daily agendas for treatment I can look at?
- How do I get reassurance about the look and feel of the clinic, prior to arranging admission?
- Based on my information, how quickly would you want me to start taking part in the therapy schedule, following detox?
How Does Covid-19 Affect Rehab Centres?
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.
Achieving recovery in a covid-19 world, however, means making some accommodations along the way.
Step 3 - Set A Budget
Getting funds together for rehab in Pembroke Dock takes planning, for most families.
Public services are accountable to the tax payer, and seldom offer more specialist interventions.
Like most things in life, it's tempting to go for simply the cheapest cost provider.
Instead, seeking out non-brand name providers, who spend less on business and more on care levels, can pay off.
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 Avenues For Help
Local Mutual Aid Meetings
Most locations hold local Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings which can assist in the mutual aid and social elements of recovery.
However, specialist medical help will be required to kick start the journey with detox, which cannot be obtained via such community groups.
Mutual aid meetings have earned their place in everyone's recovery. But starting out - you'll need more specialist help for detox.
NHS Addiction 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.
Eligibility for short term detox is slim, and is usually restricted to only a handful of cases.
Where no public healthcare short term options are viable, or where the individual doesn't have enough funding in place for treatment, we often see families and friends pooling together to finance detox for a loved one.
Step 4 - Get Independent Reviews
Assessing a provider's standard of care is important - but can be tricky for the layman.
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.
Inspectors from these organisations visit private clinics nationwide, and check they comply with minimum standards of care, producing reports which they publish on the world wide web.
Clinics are reviewed on quality and expertise of their service, staff, and care levels provided.
Regulatory Inspections - Keynotes
There are 2 types of clinic inspections you need to know about - "Unannounced" and "Announced". "Unannounced" means the inspection team arrived at the provider with no forewarning; "Announced" means the clinic were aware of the visit in advance; therefore, always seek out reports detailing "Unannounced" inspections, to get the clearest picture possible, of day-to-day standards, inside the clinic.
Step 5 - Finalise The Details
Now is the time to come to a decision about where you're completing treatment.
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.
You can normally complete the necessary steps over the phone in 20 minutes or less, and then make an initial deposit towards treatment, that's used to hold the room in your name, until you arrive at the clinic.
It's a good time at this point to also sort out any payment by insurance policy, or other means.
Step 6 - Arranging Payment
As above, expect to pay a deposit prior to admission.
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.
Not many clinics remain, who offer finance payment plans, directly.
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.
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 - Admitting To A Clinic
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.
You'll usually be asked to bring certain essentials with you:
Rules re mobile phone and device usage varies from clinic to clinic - it's worth checking before you set off - how many devices are allowed, and what the internet usage policy is. Many clinics have a restricted use policy, to keep clients on track.
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.
The Top Questions To Ask
Thanks for reading our guide.
Abbeycare have provided this guide free of charge, to help you make the right decision when considering addiction rehab treatment options.
Abbeycare's UK clinics are available to those in Pembroke Dock.
Since 2005, we've been helping thousands to overcome addiction, comfortably, and safely.
There's no substitute for the years of experience we've had, assisting with even the most complex cases.
We can even arrange to assist with transport to the clinic (some extra charges 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.
Our medical team are ready to help you detox, comfortably.
Our addiction specialist therapists can help you overcome the underlying issues of addiction.
Our clinical team are ready to help you start the journey.
Now....are you ready?
We'll help get things moving. Ring us direct, on 01603 513 091.
