Recovery Residence: What is it?
A Recovery Residence provides the best setting for men and women in the recovery from alcohol and/or substance abuse process. Those staying in Recovery Residences receive structure, guidance, and a safe place to learn all the skills that can help them turn their life around – to become strong, independent, and sober once they transition out of the residences. There are usually about 6 to 8 individuals living in one house. The length of stay ranges from ninety days to one year.
Recovery Residence name can apply to peer-run housing that utilizes outside recovery support programs and residences that are monitored by assigned staff who enforces house rules and have more access to recovery management services. There are also residences with extended care programs and professional staff, including accredited treatment providers and qualified management team. These are considered to be Level 3 and 4 residences.
Having families visit people in recovery while they live in residence is very important to overall recovery, so most Recovery Residences have visitation schedules. Depending on what stage in recovery the person is, they might be allowed to go for outings with their family (a drug test is then administered to ensure compliance with the rules).
Depending on where individuals in their treatment, they can also work while staying at the residence. This helps them to get acclimated back into their everyday life in the community as they are more ready for it. The Recovery Residence can help with resources to start looking for jobs or volunteer opportunities to gain the necessary skills and experience.
Who is a Recovery Residence Designed for?
Recovery Residences are intended for people who need a special environment to achieve a full recovery from alcohol or other drug use and related problems. As we explained earlier, there are different levels of services and support available to meet the needs of individuals at different stages in recovery.
Single-sex residences are very common. Teen residences are also in demand. The staff at these residences is more able to address issues that teens normally face and while in recovery. Single mother residences provide the support for mothers to recover while also having an opportunity to be with the children and learn how to be a parent.
There are Recovery Residences that meet specific needs. For example, the LGBT population often faces a series of problems and issues that aren’t always faced by the heterosexual population. LGBT residences are created for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and have a staff that is skilled and familiar with treating these issues.
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Is Recovery Residence participation helpful?
If you or someone you know needs a safe place to work on the process of recovery from drugs and/or alcohol, the Recovery Residence will help to build a proper foundation for proper living. These places offer a setting that is designed to promote a better transition from highly structured treatment programs back to everyday lives, being more independent, finding work, and getting established in sobriety.
What makes these places helpful in achieving a successful recovery is that they have all the necessary support. First of all, an individual will receive support from peers who have or are still going through the recovery and better understand the experience they are going through. Residents are also required or at least encouraged to take advantage of Alcoholics Anonymous and similar organizations.
More structured recovery residences provide even more support and services. Most recovering addicts cannot receive such around the clock support and monitoring from family and friends, who usually have other things to attend to and simply do not have the required knowledge and understanding to steer them in the right direction and offer a helping hand when it is needed the most.
What are the Benefits of a Recovery Residence?
Living at the Recovery Residence, people have minimal exposure to drugs, alcohol, and other triggers that can lead to a relapse. Although most do not provide any form of treatment or medication management, each resident usually has to attend self-help meetings and participate in local outpatient therapy.
Having a sober place, rules, and requirements ensure long-term sobriety. At the same time, residents do not feel like they are cut off from the whole world. Instead of a place, people, and things that previously pushed them towards drugs and alcohol, they have compassionate people who care about them and learn to see a purpose in life and be happy without the alcohol and drugs.
How Do I Choose a Recovery Residence?
Before choosing a residence, it is important to research the different certifications and qualities of the program. It is relatively easy to open a Recovery Residence, but even if it is opened by those who want to give back to their community, they might not really realize everything that goes into a good recovery program at such residence.
To ensure victory in recovery, the Recovery Residence you choose should have everything you or your loved one needs. Thus, take some time to decide what you are looking to get from the Recovery Residence. Here are a few things to look for in the Recovery Residence:
- Are they accredited? There are different accrediting bodies in different states. The fact that the owner took this extra step shows the seriousness of this establishment.
- What services are offered?
- How strict is the structure?
- Who supervises the residence?
- What is the daily routine?
This can be a difficult journey, but you don’t have to go it alone. Let us be your guide and provide you the environment needed to regain control of your life and begin the path to recovery.
Recovery Residence and Sober House: What is the Difference?
Sober Houses can be considered a Level 1 Recovery Residence. However, usually, when you see the term Recovery Residence, it refers to a more structured form of housing that aspires to be more professional. They are typically privately owned and operated. Residents are also usually expected to find employment after a certain period of time, the intention of which is to help increase involvement in healthy lifestyle choices.
Remember, where a person lives after treatment can have a huge impact on their success in recovery. So, choosing a Recovery Residence level that is right for the individual in the recovery is very important. Only you and treatment specialists can tell if it should be a Level 1 residence (Sober house) or a residence with more support resources.
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