Benefits of At Home Recovery Care

Home sweet home.

Home is where the heart is.

There’s no place like home.

There is a good reason why these phrases are part of our American lexicon. We love our homes, our personal little castles where we feel safe and secure. Never is the home environment more appreciated than when a substance use disorder needs attending to. Who wouldn’t rather receive addiction recovery care at home versus a facility?

Approaching recovery is a daunting task that sparks all kinds of anxiety and worry. Those facing detox and then treatment fear the process, knowing that there will be discomfort involved during the withdrawal stages. How better to work through this important first step than by being in the comfort of one’s own home.

Instead of joining a group of strangers in a clinical setting, undergoing detox and addiction recovery care at home significantly reduces anxiety. Surrounded by loved ones and familiar furnishings, receiving private at-home detox services offers a sense of belonging and loving support. The individual receives treatment in their own personal living space, having access to their own bed, their own pillow, and their own belongings.

At-Home Recovery Care is Discreet

In addition to the creature comforts associated with going through detox in the home environment, another benefit centers on the issue of privacy. To date, there is unfortunately still a social stigma attached to addiction and mental health issues. Too many people who need and deserve to get treatment avoid it because they fear the possible repercussions. They are concerned about someone learning that they entered a detox center and this information potentially damaging their reputation professionally or socially.

With the at-home detox option, the individual can rest assured that they will not be seen at a detox facility, as the detox and withdrawal phase of recovery will take place in the security of their home. At-home recovery care provides discreet detox nursing services with the highest degree of privacy protection.

Family Support

Not only will loved ones be relieved that the individual is addressing a substance use problem and getting professional help, but these family members will be available to offer emotional support during the detox process. For the person going through the uncomfortable withdrawal process, it is reassuring to have family present who care for them.

In many cases, it is the loved ones that are the central motivation for deciding to get sober in the first place. Having them available only helps reinforce the decision to finally face the addiction and get healthy. These family members provide the inspiration for enduring the difficult task of detoxification.

The family can also be an excellent source of help for researching treatment options for the next phase of recovery following the at-home detox. The detox team can offer guidance regarding the level of care needed when enrolling in an addiction recovery program, such as selecting outpatient services or a residential setting. A family member can also review insurance coverage prior to entering a rehab program. This, too, reduces stress, having an understanding of what is covered, allowing the family to prepare for any out-of-pocket expenses.

Concierge Services Ease Stress

Yet another benefit of receiving addiction recovery care in the home involves the special perks that are available through the private nursing service portal. Very few detox centers provide additional services for the individuals in their care. But a private nursing service will have access to holistic mobile services, such as:

• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Aromatherapy
• Meditation
• Yoga

These holistic activities can assist in reducing stress and increasing a sense of calm during the detox process, which is a plus. These concierge services can help the individual going through detox and withdrawal by enhancing relaxation.

What Types of Substance Use Disorders Are Treated At Home?

When seeking private in-home detox services it is essential to locate one that addresses the specific substance of abuse. While true that some private addiction recovery care services do specialize in certain substances, such as prescription pill addiction or alcoholism, the majority are headed by a physician who specializes in addiction treatment who is able to manage the detox process for most, if not all, substances of abuse.

There are some exceptions, such as the individual with a very long history of alcoholism, for which the home detox environment is not necessarily appropriate. This is due to the possibility that the individual may develop the delirium tremens (DTs), an acute and sometimes life-threatening withdrawal response on days 3-4 of the detox timeline. This risk can be identified during the initial consultation with the private in-home detox service, as these professionals will carefully review medical history and general health, prior detox history, and age. A hospital setting may be a better fit when there are significant health risks involved.

What to Expect During a Medically Monitored Detox

When someone has decided they are ready to get help for the substance use disorder they must first complete a medical detox. This is required so that the substance will have cleared the system, allowing the individual to stabilize before beginning treatment.

The detox process is different for each individual, but withdrawal symptoms are generally manageable with medical interventions. In most cases, detox and withdrawal usually progresses in three distinct stages and lasts about one week. The exception to this would involve benzodiazepines or other opioids, which generally necessitate a longer detox timeline. In these cases, the doctor will prepare a slow tapering schedule to gently wean the individual safely off these drugs, reducing withdrawal discomforts or potentially serious withdrawal effects.

Most detoxes progress through three stages of symptoms: the emerging symptoms, the peak or acute symptoms, and the subsiding symptoms. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms will range from mild to severe depending on such factors as:

• Length of substance abuse history
• Substance consumption rate
• The particular substance of abuse
• General health status
• Presence of a coexisting mental health issue
• Poly-drug involvement

Throughout the detox process, the private nurse will record vital signs regularly and continually monitor withdrawal symptoms as they emerge. To help mitigate discomfort, the detox team will provide various medical interventions that can minimize the symptoms of withdrawal. The detox nurse will also be available to offer encouragement and psychological support to the individual as he or she progresses through the detox phase of recovery.

Next Steps for Treating the Addiction Itself

Successfully completing the in-home detox is an excellent first step on the recovery journey. Without follow-up treatment, however, this success will be short-lived. Individuals who have acquired a substance use disorder will have developed addiction habits, driven by the changes in the brain’s reward system. To obtain a sustained recovery it is imperative that fundamental shifts are made in the way the individual thinks and the actions they take when encountering a triggering situation. The addiction treatment process teaches the individual how to make these changes in thought/behavior patterns, helping to equip them for a life free from the grip of addiction.

Addiction recovery programs are available in either an outpatient or residential setting and will involve the following treatment elements:

• Psychotherapy. The treatment process centers on psychotherapy, the core treatment element of addiction recovery. Evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and others are offered in both one-on-one and group sessions. Therapy helps residents examine underlying emotional issues, as well as to identify disordered thought patterns.

• Family-focused therapy. The family dynamic can play a significant role in achieving recovery success. Family-focused group sessions provide a safe forum for family members to review issues such as enabling, codependency, setting healthy boundaries, and improving communication skills.

• Education. A key treatment element of addiction recovery is acquiring important recovery skills. Relapse prevention planning entails creating an individualized strategy that identifies personal triggers and outlines actionable steps to help avoid relapse. Other recovery skills include improved emotion regulation, conflict resolution techniques and communication skills.

• Adjunctive activities. Complementary activities that enhance psychotherapy include relaxation techniques, such as yoga, massage, mindfulness meditation, art therapy, equine therapy, and journaling.

• Dual Diagnosis. Some individuals may have both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health challenge, such as bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder, which is called a dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis treatment provides that both the addiction behaviors and the mental health disorder will be treated simultaneously for best recovery outcomes.

• 12-Step or non-12-Step recovery group. Recovery group meetings, such as the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program or SMART Recovery non-12-step programs, will be incorporated into the weekly schedule. Meetings revolve around peer support and accountability.
  

• Nutrition and Recreation. Recreational activities and exercise are an important aspect of restoring physical health and fitness in recovery. Regular exercise can contribute to improved mood, better sleep quality, and improved overall wellness. Some rehabs offer nutritional counseling, which can assist the individual in improving their diet to optimize health in recovery.

If you are ready to commit to sobriety, consider beginning the recovery process with a safe and discreet at-home detox process to launch your new sober lifestyle.