While detox treatment is a necessary means to recovery from addiction, there is no end to the wide range of program types available. Residential, inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization are just some common descriptors. For those asking, “What is residential treatment,” read more to understand the benefits of inpatient, or residential detox care.
What is Residential Treatment?
Many prospective patients as well as their families have an important question to ask – What is Residential Treatment? The answer is relatively simple. In the context of addiction recovery, residential treatment is any addiction treatment program that is 24/7.
Also known as inpatient treatment, residential programs are designed so that all patients have care around the clock. This is critical for many patients, but especially for those with severe addictions or health complications.
During the detox portion of the recovery process, encountering symptoms of withdrawal is common. While these symptoms could be as minor as a case of the flu, they can also lead to serious conditions such as seizures, suicidal thoughts or hallucinations. In residential care, none of these issues will go unnoticed or untreated.
What is Residential Treatment Hoping to Accomplish?
There is always one overall goal for patients in residential addiction treatment–to break free from the grasp of addiction. This starts with making it through an inpatient detox program, and it then it moves into additional treatment and preparing to withstand relapse.
In more specific terms, residential treatment tries to accomplish the goal of creating a secure environment to facilitate recovery. While other outpatient or part-time programs can be successful, they can’t guarantee a secure environment. If patients can leave the premises unsupervised, then there is no way to determine whether they will access drugs, alcohol or any other addictive substance.
In a closed, secure residential program, patients know they are in a controlled environment. While this protective space can’t last for a lifetime, it can help get patients through the most challenging portion of recovery. In order to get on the road to recovery, it is necessary to complete a detox. That’s why it is worth making the extra effort to successfully complete detox through residential programs or long-term rehab.
Residential Detox Treatment Offers 24/7 Medical Support
Detox is typically a short-lived part of the recovery process. Often, it lasts for less than a week, although for some individuals it can take up to two weeks. During that time, many patients will require a lot of medical attention and supervision. One of the main benefits of residential detox treatment is that the care is 24/7.
It is not just emergency medical situations where patients in detox might require professional assistance. Often, smaller actions can still necessitate medical care. Take for example, the issue of dehydration. It can be overlooked by some patients, but it is is critical to combat dehydration with electrolyte beverages or even IVs in order to maintain health and strength.
Certain prescription medications can also make a big different in how patients feel throughout a detox. Specific sedatives or analgesics can eliminate discomfort and increase rest, and these medications are available and administered by medical staff at a detox center. Medical professionals can also determine which medications are not recommended for certain patients or certain addictions.
Residential Programs Create a Community for Recovery
There are many elements that combine to create a successful, healthy atmosphere for recovery. One such element is a community spirit. Community is a way to build a support system, add structure to each day and feel a sense of belonging in a difficult time of life.
Those who are detoxing in a residential program will be surrounded by other patients who are going through the same situation. This is in direct contrast to those who complete recovery on their own and might feel isolated or lonely. Residential programs inherently offer a community, day and night, for all patients.
In addition, a community means structure. Most patients will follow a detailed and stringent schedule each day, starting with a communal breakfast and perhaps leading to an evening group therapy session or movie night. It is easier to stick to a routine when others are following along at the same time.
Residential Care is Comprehensive
Residential detox is about more than just ceasing consumption of addictive substances and providing any necessary medical care. Because of its 24/7 nature, residential care can also be comprehensive and work toward better health in a number of ways. Nutrition, sleep patterns, fitness and mental health can all be addressed during this time.
In residential care, patients should have access to things like three nutritious meals each day. They could access nutrition therapy, or they might make the most of fitness facilities. They can also speak with trained professionals about any mental health issues that crop up. All of these things work together to help patients be healthier, stronger and more likely to succeed with a medical detox.
What is Residential Treatment Going to Cost?
One of the major concerns that prospective patients and their families have regarding detox is how much treatment will cost. In particular, they are concerned with whether residential care is going to be more expensive. Thankfully, quality detox facilities usually accept health insurance for detox, limiting potential costs.
Under the Affordable Care Act, all health insurance policies have to cover, to some degree, addiction treatment. Even those policies that don’t have extensive coverage will typically provide for detox. That’s definitely positive news for most patients, and it means that expenses can be lowered without sacrificing comprehensive care.
There are lots of detox programs available, but residential treatment is the ideal choice if you’re ready to combat addiction once and for all. Call 866-294-5306 to learn more about Serenity House Detox & Recovery and how you can benefit from residential treatment.
