For many people, getting ready for rehab is both thrilling and daunting at once. The start of addiction treatment marks the beginning of a brand new life. The world seems full of possibilities and there’s suddenly new reason to hope. There’s also fear of the unknown. However, in the midst of your angst and excitement, it’s important to take care of a few things before heading out. If you plan on spending a month or more in inpatient rehab, you want to make sure that everyone and everything you’re normally responsible for is taken care of.
To avoid overlooking something important and to make things a bit easier on yourself, it’s best to start by creating a list of everything that must be addressed. You can divide your list into categories. For instance, you probably have family-related, work-related, and financial obligations to meet. Write down everything from house plants and pets to your recurring bills. Few things are worse than starting rehab and having your health insurance lapse due to non-payment. Although health insurance companies have grace periods, you don’t want to miss yours. After you’ve written your to-do list, make a second list of friends, family members, and professional associates who can help you out.
The Short List for Getting Ready for Inpatient Rehab
If you have small children to care for and are a single parent, make sure that you have a reliable family member or friend who can keep them for the duration of your treatment. If you do not, consider signing up for an intensive outpatient program (IOP) instead. IOPs offer a similar range of services, and they make it possible for single parents to get the treatment they need while still tending to their families.
Before heading out to your month-long inpatient rehab, let your kids’ schools know that they’ll temporarily be in the care of someone else. Update their emergency contacts and make a list of important phone numbers for their caregiver. If you have family pets, you’ll need to make month-long arrangements for them as well. If there aren’t any friends or family members who are willing to take your animals under their wings, shop around for local pet boarding services. Many veterinary hospitals offer boarding services at a reasonable cost.
Outsource the care of your home to a trusted friend. This should be someone who can regularly stop by, pick up your mail, and make sure that packages or newspapers aren’t building up on your porch. They can water your houseplants and make sure that there are no signs of trouble. Take care of any seasonal concerns as well. For instance, if you’ll be leaving for rehab in the winter, winterize your plumbing first. You can set your thermostat at a modest temperature, insulate exposed pipes, and put away outside hoses. If jobs like these make you feel overwhelmed, share this portion of your list with a reliable family member.
Make an appointment to speak with someone in the human resources department at your job. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) makes it illegal for companies to let team members go simply because they’re seeking much-needed medical treatment. However, there are several steps that you’ll need to take in order to enjoy the protections of the FMLA. A human resources representative can walk you through these steps.
If you have important bills to pay while you’re gone, put them on auto-pay. This way, companies can automatically debit their payments out of your account without any further actions from you. Streaming services, grocery delivery services, and other subscriptions that you won’t be using can be put on hold. Temporarily pausing subscriptions like these will allow you to sidestep the costs of services that you won’t be actively using.
You also want to take a minute to clean house. It’s important to make sure that you’ll be returning to a living environment that’s absolutely temptation-free. Get rid of all alcohol, illicit substances, and drug paraphernalia before you go. This is another important task that your loved ones can help you with.
One of the most important things to do before heading out for addiction treatment is to get your support team together. You may be surprised to discover just how many people in your life are willing to help you through this challenging time. Let your loved ones know what your intentions are, what you need, and what your future challenges are likely to be. Those who are willing and able to assist you can help with your pre-treatment preparation, visit you on-campus during family days, and act as accountability partners when you get home.
If you’d like to know more about getting ready for rehab or if you need help finding the right rehab facility, get in touch with us today by calling 833-820-2922. Our counselors are always standing by.