For people who require long-term treatment for substance abuse or mental health issues, residential treatment is often the best option to help them embark on the journey to recovery. Residential treatment is slightly different from other types of treatment such as inpatient, at-home, or outpatient care and provides many resources and treatment options that are not available In those settings.
If you are considering residential treatment or assessing the needs of your loved one, we will go over:
- Inpatient vs. outpatient mental health
- What mental health facilities do
- What kinds of patients mental health facilities treat
- Inpatient therapy work
- Pros and cons of inpatient treatment centers
What is Residential Treatment?
Residential rehab programs are typically in non-hospital, licensed residential facilities that are less intense than inpatient treatments but still have safe housing and monitored medical care.
This allows the patient to receive a combination of medically supported treatment and various types of therapy that will enable them to have the best chance at long-term recovery maintenance.
What is Inpatient Treatment?
Inpatient or residential treatment programs require patients to check themselves into a facility and receive treatment in a controlled environment to treat their addictions. Inpatient treatment clinics typically offer 24-hour care including medical, psychiatric, or emotional support, though it is important to learn what resources are available at each facility well before enrolling in one.
What are the Differences Between Residential and Inpatient Treatment?
Treatment programs for substance abuse and mental health generally fall into two categories – inpatient or outpatient rehab.
The main differences between the two treatments include:
- 24/7 Monitoring: Inpatient treatment consists of all-day, every-day monitoring, while residential treatment has monitoring, but at a lesser intensity.
- Environment: A residential treatment is typically a comfortable, home-like setting, while inpatient treatment is often more of a hospital setting with security.
- Length of Treatment: Most inpatient treatments are short-term, while residential treatments are often ongoing for several months (or more) depending on how a patient responds to treatment.
- Programming: Residential care is often used to follow-up inpatient care and can have a more holistic approach to its programming. Given the home-like and comfortable environment, it is typically much less intense than just medical care.
These are general guidelines for how residential and inpatient rehabs are run. If you or your loved one are considering treatment, it is always best to communicate with potential providers to have your questions answered.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Mental Health
The main distinction between inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment is the living arrangements. People in inpatient treatment typically live at the facility where they receive care, whereas outpatient treatment is done at home. However, many people in need of treatment transition from one to the other as their programming and conditions change.
Read More: Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab: Which one is right for your spouse?
What is a Residential Treatment Center?
A residential treatment center is a live-in facility where providers can administer therapy for substance use disorders, mental illness, or other behavioral problems. Often referred to as a rehab center, these facilities allow different environments that inpatient care – residents are often encouraged to take part in community events, create a routine for themselves, and try to live a structured life while healing at the same time.
What do Mental Health Facilities Do?
Mental health facilities are often solely focused on mental health issues, though the residents there can also have co-occurring substance abuse issues. At mental health facilities, patients are treated depending on the severity of their condition to either stabilize their symptoms and get them back to their daily lives or explore longer-term care for more severe mental health issues.
What is Residential Treatment Like?
Residential treatment is still a very serious environment where the main focus Is rehabilitation. The best residential facilities allow most clients in residence to live an autonomous life with a supportive environment, but there are specialized doctors, therapists, and mental health experts monitoring them. Residents are expected to bring their own clothes and supplies, abide by rules, and be willing participants in the residential setting during their stay.
What Kinds of Patients do Mental Health Facilities Treat?
Mental health facilities treat patients from all walks of life for various disorders. Some of the most common patients in residential treatment are those with chronic psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar, or dual diagnosis disorders that prevent them from functioning independently at the time they are checked in.
Can You Go to Rehab for Anxiety or Depression?
It is uncommon for people to go to rehab for depression or anxiety, as these are typically mental health issues that are treatable from home. However, many patients who suffer from anxiety or depression in conjunction with other mental health or substance use disorders go to residential treatment. With that said, if regular therapy and other outpatient measures are not making everyday life more manageable, it may be worth considering rehab for anxiety or depression.
How to Pay for Residential Treatment
Many people who need residential treatment do not have health insurance or insurance that covers these services and cannot pay out of pocket. However, many clinics have sliding scale services based on the financial well-being of potential clients.
Does Inpatient Therapy Work?
Though results will vary based on each individual’s needs, inpatient treatment seems to be the most effective for many mental health or substance use issues. In especially severe cases, in-patient therapy is often viewed as a last resort when it really might have been the best-fitting solution the entire time.
What are the Pros and Cons of Inpatient Treatment Centers
With any rehabilitation facility, there are positive and negative elements. Remember, no two treatment facilities are the same, and no patient will respond the same way as another. Here are some pros and cons of inpatient treatment centers:
Pros:
- Safe alternative to hospitalization
- Opportunities for stabilization of co-occurring disorders
- Safe and contained
- Medical supervision as well as basic support
- Removal of temptations and stressors
- Potential for shorter treatment times
Cons
- Costly treatment if not covered by insurance
- Higher difficulty transitioning back to normal life
- May need further treatment
Inpatient treatment centers are not guaranteed to work for everyone, but they have proven effective and are one of the best options for a family member in need. We always recommend searching for the best option across several settings before deciding for your loved ones.
When to Get Inpatient Mental Healthcare?
Depending on the diagnosis and severity of symptoms, inpatient mental health treatments can be provided for those who:
- Have Bipolar Mania
- Pose a threat to themselves or others
- Have difficulty caring for themselves
- Experience delusions, hallucinations, or reckless thoughts
- Exhibit suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Have an altered mental state due to substance abuse
- Suffer from extreme depression or anxiety
When to Seek Inpatient Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, and More
While most depression or anxiety is treated outpatient, the most severe cases may call for inpatient treatment. Whether an individual seeks to check themselves in or it comes from the urging of their loved ones, it still must be elective unless there are other diagnoses or compromised behavioral states. These could include co-occurring disorders, behavioral addiction, or the patient posing a risk to their career or familial relations. If you or a loved one are suffering from severe anxiety or depression, it’s never a bad idea to explore the option of inpatient treatment to see if it might help long-term recovery.
How to Get Inpatient Mental Healthcare?
Mental health treatment can be a sensitive subject, but exploring options for your loved ones is nothing to be ashamed of. To choose the best residential treatment facility, you should explore the options provided by the best inpatient treatment centers near you. It can also be helpful to speak with a psychiatrist or therapist, and they will have a comprehensive knowledge of the treatment facilities and can give recommendations. The most important step of this journey is starting it, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Start Recovering at a Residential Treatment Center in AZ
At Fountain Hills Recovery, we believe that finding a treatment that feels right for you or your loved ones shouldn’t be a challenge. Our goal is to provide a safe, comfortable environment that allows our patients to receive the best addiction and mental health services at their own pace.
If you or a loved one is in need, now is the time to reach out.
Our priority is getting people’s lives back on track, and we’d love to help.
