Why You Should Choose Fully Residential Rehabilitation Over Quasi Residential

If you are thinking of choosing an addiction rehab for treatment for yourself or for a loved one, it is well worth considering the different types of rehabs available and what that have to offer. It is important that you opt for the rehab treatment that is most likely to get you or your loved one well. Rehabs can be expensive and attending a rehab is not something that many will want to do, or can afford to do, more than once. Aside from ensuring that the rehab you select can treat your individual needs in terms of your addiction, you will also want to ensure that they can cater for you medically, emotionally and spiritually. It is vital that you arm yourself fully with the facts on the different kinds of rehab before coming to an informed decision as to where you or your loved one will go for life saving addiction treatment.

The Difference Between Fully Residential and Quasi Residential

When making enquiries regarding rehab treatment, you are likely to come across the terms fully residential and quasi residential. Quasi residential refers to a rehab that offers a full treatment program but the patient resides in a sober living house in between the rehabs program opening times. Quasi residential rehabs usually run a treatment program between the hours of 9am and 5pm, with shortened hours at the weekends and also bank holidays. The rest of the time, the patient will reside in shared accommodation with other patients of the same sex in a sober living house. It is usual for the patient to purchase and prepare their own meals outside of clinic times and to have reduced supervision when returning to the sober living house. After an initial consultation with a detox specialist doctor, detox medications tend to be administered by staff who are not fully medically qualified and sometimes even by other patients who have completed a set term of treatment. Quasi residential tend to be the cheaper option, as they require less staff and the standard of care is less intensive and qualified than a fully residential rehab.

Fully residential rehabs offer all inclusive treatment in house. The patient will receive all meals freshly prepared on site, have their own room (usually with an ensuite bathroom) and receive around the clock medical and therapeutic care, all under the one roof. Fully residential rehab units often have 24 hour qualified nursing staff and are better equipped to deal with patients that have mobility or health problems.  As all treatment is carried out on site, the supervision is around the clock with staff on hand at all times, even outside of the therapeutic treatment time table. Detox medications are usually administered by qualified nursing staff and are closely guarded and regulated. Having meals prepared by the rehabs own residential catering chef and staff ensures that patients eat a balanced and nutritious diet.  It also ensures that those who suffer from an eating disorder are closely monitored by staff at all times and there is less chance of patients relapsing on alcohol or drugs whilst in treatment due to the high levels of supervision and limited access to the outside world

What Are The Pitfalls of Quasi Residential Treatment?

Quasi residential treatment is intended for those whom have a limited budget and whom are seeking a longer term of treatment. The reduced staffing and supervision means that quasi residential rehabs tend to be cheaper, but of course this means that there will be sacrifices as a result. Many individuals who require addiction treatment will be drawn to the idea of having more freedom, but this is not necessarily a positive thing, and in some cases it can be disasterous. For an individual to get well in quasi residential treatment they need to remain very focused and possess the ability to set healthy boundaries with other patients. Having less supervision and more freedom can lead to conflict amongst patients, this is something that needs to be avoided during this very vulnerable time of recuperation. Patients are also expected to be self sufficient in terms of self care. This can be a positive thing for someone who who is looking to bridge the gap between detox and normal living, but for those who are very ill it can be extremely challenging both in the mental and physical sense. Ultimately quasi residential is intended for those who wish to undergo a long period of rehabilitation and who are of sound mind and health.  There is a large margin for error, given that detox medication and individuals spending monies can at times be held by a peer. This is not the case with all quasi residential rehabs, but this practice does happen in some of the budget rehabs.

The aim is to encourage peers to take responsibility and to show compassion and caring for others more unwell than themselves; it also saves money in terms of staffing. This practice carry’s risks and negatives as you can well imagine.  There have been incidents reported of peers in charge of medications and money relapsing; the ramifications of this does not only affect the individual patient who has relapsed, but also all those who looked up to them as someone to aspire to. Fully residential rehabs reduced the chance of relapse happening; all patients are treated as patients that require intensive and primary care. There is a very definite line drawn between those receiving treatment and the staff who deliver it. Those in fully residential that have progressed to secondary care will be encouraged to do more for themselves and for others, however this will be very closely monitored by the rehabs staff at all times. Fully residential rehabs also tend to have more qualified and experienced staff.  In terms of treatment, really you get what you pay for, but some fully residential rehabs are able to offer more affordable treatment in house as they do not have the added expense of managing other off site properties.

Know What Your Signing Up For

The most important thing to consider when choosing a rehab is if the treatment and care that they offer is suitable and specific enough to be successful.  Know exactly what it is that the rehab offers in terms of treatment on and off site, the levels of supervision and exactly what is included in the treatment price.  It is useful to talk to someone who has in depth knowledge of different rehabs and various addiction treatments. Talking to Addiction Helper first, can help offer reassurance and confidence in your choice of rehab. Our trained telephone counsellors can also assess in terms of treatment needs and suitability for quasi or fully residential. This service is free of charge and can ensure that you or your loved one get the exact and specific treatment needed in order to safely detox and make a full recovery from addiction.