In some arenas, there is a clear distinction between residential addiction treatment and inpatient addiction treatment. However, people use the two terms interchangeably in many rehab centers around the country. They both refer to treatment for a substance use disorder that requires the client to reside in the treatment center or hospital. At Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge (PAATC), our inpatient drug rehab center provides high-quality, evidence-based care for all addictions.
At PAATC, the services we provide in our inpatient drug rehab center can be referred to as both residential and inpatient treatment. For a more nuanced explanation of how the two terms might mean different things, give us a call at 844.442.8673 or reach out with our online form.
Residential vs. Inpatient Treatment
What is residential treatment? What is inpatient treatment? You may hear these two terms used to distinguish between kinds of care that involve staying in a facility while engaging in rehab. When used to tease out important differences between types of care, they usually indicate some of the differentiators listed below:
- Inpatient care can be involuntary, though it is not in all cases. Residential treatment is nearly always voluntary.
- Inpatient care often means that there is a very acute addiction, a dual diagnosis, or poly-substance addiction that requires a more intensive level of care. People with any type of addiction can access residential treatment.
- Insurance often covers inpatient treatment due to documented needs. However, you may need to pay for voluntary residential treatment without the documented medical necessity out-of-pocket.
- Inpatient treatment is often considered a time-limited first step in ongoing rehab, with a step-down into an outpatient program. Residential treatment has no time limit and may or may not be followed by other programs.
- Inpatient care can be provided in a hospital setting or a free-standing rehab facility, whereas residential treatment will never be within a hospital.
Residential and Inpatient Treatment – What Do They Offer?
Whether you enroll in an inpatient or residential program, both treatment methods share some significant benefits.
Medically Managed Detox
This is where recovery begins. When you are in an inpatient program, your detox will likely occur within the same facility. That is definitely true at PAATC, where we ensure a successful withdrawal from all substances under the watchful eye of medical professionals before you enter the inpatient portion of your treatment. Those medical professionals will manage your symptoms and monitor you for any signs of physical or mental health problems that may arise.
Trigger-Free Setting
When you reside in your rehab facility for addiction treatment, whether for residential or inpatient treatment, you can be sure that your environment will be free from external triggers. No drugs or alcohol will be accessible to you, and you will be with peers who are also in recovery and professionals who know how to help you and mitigate any stressors or triggers. You can discuss the triggers that exist in your own mind, such as harmful beliefs, fears, and psychological cravings during treatment.
A Schedule
Your time in an inpatient program is managed within the parameters of your personalized treatment plan. You can rest assured that what you need will be on your schedule when you need it. Freeing your mind from having to plan travel to and from the rehab center and schedule different therapies throughout the week will enable you to focus fully on recovery.
Community
You will live with others who know what you are going through and are also working toward lasting sobriety. You and they will share experiences in group sessions, support each other, and hold one another accountable. These are people with whom you don’t need to watch what you say or worry about them judging or misunderstanding you. What a relief that can be.
Long-Term Recovery Outcomes
For many, outpatient rehab is doable and highly successful for thousands of people who begin recovery every year. However, data supports the fact that inpatient treatment has improved outcomes several years out, post-discharge.
Learn More at Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge
Access the benefits above as well as a range of evidence-based therapies offered in our inpatient treatment center. Your recovery is important to us. Let us answer your questions about residential vs. inpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, and how PAATC’s inpatient program works. Reach out today. Call 844.442.8673 or complete our online form.
