Photo by Anthony Shkraba

Originally Posted On: What Is a Sober Living Home? (and Other Frequently Asked Questions) | (tasterecovery.com)

 

The Department of Health and Human Services reports that there are roughly 15 million people in the US that have alcohol use disorder (AUD.) AUD, or alcoholism, refers to someone’s uncontrolled or problematic drinking.

Within these 15 million AUD patients, approximately 1 million (or 7 percent) will receive alcohol addiction treatment within the previous year.

One haven available to AUD patients to recover from their nightmare world of addictions is a sober living home. Are you or one of your family members suffering from AUD? If so, then read further.

Want to know more about what is a sober living home all about? You can learn more here from this helpful FAQ that will answer your tough questions. Then you’ll know if this treatment format is right for you.

What is a Sober Living Home?

Sober living homes are a transitional living environment between AUD inpatient treatment and independent living care. This kind of sober living facility supports the treatment provided to patients in a formal rehabilitation program.

This “halfway” environment helps the patient transition back into independent living.

Sober living homes are owned by a company or charity organization or even privately owned. A sober living house tends to be located in a quiet neighborhood.

These locations help facilitate a peaceful environment for patients to transition back to their obligations in the “real world.”

A sober living facility may specialize in one of these following methods:

Short-term Treatment

A short-term treatment program offers rigorous but brief interventions. These treatment programs can last between several days to six weeks, depending on the client’s needs.

Long-term Treatment

A long-term treatment program might last between 6-12 months long. The length of stay depends on the patient’s condition.

Therapeutic Community

A therapeutic community is a sober living program where treatment clients and providers live onsite. This therapeutic community approach shows participants how to consider their current habits.

This review is important to promote a better lifestyle change and improve a patient’s ability to be responsible, honest, and willing to master new skills.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering a Sober Living Facility

Are you or someone you love considering a long-term sober living environment? If so, here are some factors to consider when doing so.
Are There Any Benefits to Living in Sober Living Homes?

A sober living home can help maintain abstinence following an inpatient treatment program.

A sober living home can provide an environment that prepares its patients back into their normal life. The onsite, constant guidance can help patients through recovery.

Sober living homes also help patients recover in an environment free of the temptations that lead to their problems in the first place. They can find employment or repair any broken relations with friends or family.

Some of the most important benefits that residents receive in sober living homes include:

Is a Sober Living Home Different Than a Halfway House?

A sober living house and a halfway house are different facility structures. Patients at sober living homes can stay as long as they like. Patients at a halfway house are limited to shorter periods of time.

A sober living home will provide a specific regime designed to help patients develop new life skills or coping tools.

What Do the Treatment Plans Look Like?

An effective sober living home treatment plan should have some core elements. A treatment plan should include goals and the expected time frames for patients to meet those goals.

These treatment plans should also outline how the client will continue their contact with family or friends to receive support. The ultimate goal is to construct a plan that helps the patient understand alcohol’s extent on their life.

Does a Sober Living Home Have an Onsite House Supervisor?

Sober living homes usually have staff onsite 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Some of these onsite staff include an onsite supervisor who lives at the facility.

Supervisors who live on-site understand the unique needs and circumstances that onsite patients need. This allows them to solve problems quickly when conflicts arise.

These onsite supervisors also act as a manager of other staff as well as a point of contact for a patient’s family member who might have a question or concern.

How Can I Get into a Sober Living Facility?

A sober living home requires a doctor’s assessment before you can move in. Your doctor will decide if you are ready for this treatment facility. They may wait for you to complete any inpatient or outpatient treatments before you can move in.

A sober living facility will require new residents to complete drug screening before they can move in.

Why Would I Not Be Accepted to a Sober Living House?

There are limited reasons why patients would not be admitted to a long-term sober living facility.

Patients with a history of violent felonies won’t likely be accepted. Patients are also interviewed prior to any admissions. Those patients who don’t show a willingness to improve won’t usually be accepted.

Can I Have a Vehicle or a Job?

Most sober living homes will encourage you to look for a job. They may help you in your search and network with local businesses or community resources to help you get your next best job.

Most facilities allow their patients to have their own car if they have their driver’s license. If they don’t have a license, they may provide access to public transportation or allow carpooling with another resident.

How Long Should I Plan to Stay at a Sober Living Home?

Determine just how long your treatment plan is going to last. Will you need to take more than a month off from work? Some of these treatment plans can be designed to cooperate with your current schedule and responsibilities.

As referenced above, these treatment plans can range anywhere between 24 hours to twelve months.

You should also evaluate your commitment level as well as your comfort level to figure out which treatment program duration is right for you.

Conquering your addiction is important, but so is meeting your other life obligations as well.

Will My Insurance Cover Sober Living Home Expenses?

Depending on your insurance coverage, your sober living facility expenses might be automatically covered. When you research these facilities, find the ones that are covered under your current health network.

You can contact these homes individually and verify whether they are included in your insurance network.

If you don’t use a sober living home within your network, you should plan to pay beyond any deductibles. These costs could run into more than thousands of dollars that you are responsible for covering within your current individual budget.

What are the Rules for Living in a Sober Living House?

Rules for living in a sober living facility might address allowing male or female residents on site. Most sober living house rules will also forbid drugs and alcohol.

These sites may also have rules regarding medicine and personal care items that contain addictive alcohol or drug sediments. Items like mouthwash or cold medicine might be banned because they contain high levels of these banned substances.

What’s the Feedback on a Sober Living Facility?

Reviews from a previous patient who has graduated from a sober living facility can offer a wealth of information.  These veterans have experienced the programs directly and seen the specific facility’s layout themselves.  Their input could lend you a wealth of knowledge on your future plans.

Look for those sites that share feedback on their services provided from their recent clients.  Some of these sites will have a graduate network or a social media site that you can connect with directly.

Connect with these generous graduates and ask them your questions so that you can dial in on the best treatment possible.

What Are Your Next Steps?

Get in touch with your doctor and ask them for their guidance on the best sober living facilities that can help you. Check your other professional and personal commitments to see if these onsite providers work best for you.

Call your insurance provider and ask them for details on your plan’s coverage. If you see an optimal treatment provider outside of your network, develop your budget today to make sure you can cover these costs.

Don’t forget to check our website for more information on what is a sober living home all about. We will have the resources you need to find the place to help you overcome your addiction. Get ready to start living your stronger life today!