It means that a person is more confident in his/her ability in comparison to the first day of arrival into the facility, but the next morning the environment will be familiar and full of unanswered calls and responsibilities at home. The supportive structure which was helping during the first days is gone.
It is important to take care of a person as much as the stay in the facility. The first weeks are very useful for implementing a new stage of treatment and finding out which parts of daily routine are hard and make some alterations before the situation gets worse.
Make the Next Appointment Part of the Exit Plan
Prior to leaving a residential program, a person needs to have an understanding of the type of treatment he or she is going to receive, the provider and the date of the first appointment. A referral is more effective if it mentions the exact name and contact information and specifies the date. It would be helpful to know who one should contact if the appointment is not going to happen.
In the case of a short-term detox or residential treatment at Aura Recovery Center, recovery support services include planning the transition to the next level of treatment. According to Aura, its services are detoxification and residential treatment. When it comes to intensive outpatient treatment, the facility mentions that its staff refers its clients to referral partners for this type of treatment.
This fact is important when choosing among treatment centers. A family can find out whether the needed services are available in-house or via referral and who is going to help with the coordination of the transition.
Preparing for the Transition Home
Returning home can be quite a challenge for people, because they may return to their usual gatherings, quarrels and problematic periods of time prior to entering the treatment. Therefore, it is recommended to think about all these challenges beforehand.
For instance, a person can be told about where he or she will be living, how to get to appointments and what to do during the hard evenings. Such approach involves several persons who can contact and also seek for the professional help. In other words, it allows making a conclusion about what to do next in case of feeling tired, worried or the need of hiding.
People who will live together have to discuss their expectations from each other. They have to come to a common understanding regarding such issues as the level of privacy, visiting each other, drinking alcohol and speaking about it without quarreling at every opportunity. It is an embarrassing process, but it is much easier to keep to the agreement than to follow some unwritten rules.
Keep Connections to Care After Discharge
The importance of follow-up is obvious from the policy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regarding residential rehabilitation. According to its definition, the success of residential rehabilitation is determined by the ability of people to maintain or improve their condition with the help of outpatient care in the community. These services are aimed at veterans, but the way of preparing for the future is relevant for everyone.
There can be different ways of continuing care depending on the clinical demands. Some patients need intensive outpatient care, some need the regular psychological counseling, pharmacotherapy or other treatments concerning mental problems, including treatment of the substance use disorder. The main thing is whether the further service provider is familiar with the patient’s history and his or her needs.
In case of unsuccessful referral, it is necessary to reconsider the plan quickly. Transportation difficulties, scheduling problems and even financial problems can prevent follow-up. Discussion of these problems with the providers can give the chance to look for another solution.
Family and Friends - a Defined Role
The family members and friends will be glad to help. However, "be supportive" is a vague definition of their role. Someone will provide the drive to the appointment while the other one will meet on the difficult day. Having the defined activity helps to show how support can be provided.
Nevertheless, there is a limit to this kind of support. The family members should not take control over the process and try to deal with medical issues on their own. Listening to the patient, fulfilling all reasonable promises and helping him to reach out to a provider to discuss the issues which the family cannot resolve, are enough.
Sometimes, the relationships between people should be adapted to the situation. The completion of the residential treatment program cannot solve everything and all previous disputes will disappear. Manageable obligations and truthful promises create more chances to do something instead of unreasonable commitments.
Be Prepared to Adapt the Plan
The aftercare plan is meant to be clear and defined. However, it should not be rigid. For example, it may happen that the work schedule has been changed or the intensity of anxiety is increased. There is an option to discuss the issue with the provider and to reconsider the amount of support.
It is useful to determine the cases in advance when there is a good reason to make a phone call. Missing the appointment, retreating from a relationship or being unable to cope with the cravings are the examples of such situations. The earlier discussions will help to adapt the care plan before it is too late.
Thus, it can be said that the residential treatment gives the start point. Further weeks will allow people to realize how this beginning will be applied to the everyday life. With appointments made, practical questions solved and additional assistance available, it becomes easier to leave the treatment facility.