In a residential treatment facility, a client is subject to
close supervision and specialized services from a team of experts. They will be
able to process their experiences and receive ongoing mental health treatment. This environment is
conducive to a high level of recovery and can help the client overcome the
challenges he or she is facing in daily life. Residents are also surrounded by
peers who share their struggles. This is one of the best features of
residential treatment facilities.
In a residential treatment facility, a patient stays for
several months or years, depending on the severity of their illness. They can
receive intensive care while remaining supervised and will have access to a
variety of therapeutic techniques. The staff is highly skilled and will provide
personalized care. Some facilities have a medical director who oversees the
treatment of each patient. Other residential treatment facilities are run by
volunteers. Applicants must have at least three years of experience working in
mental health settings.
Patients are sometimes referred to a residential treatment
facility after completing inpatient care. The patient may be considered safe and
stable enough to live on their own, but is still too impaired to live in a
normal environment. During psychosis or mania, a patient may need extended
supervised time to recover. The length of stay varies among residential
treatment facilities, although most generally recommend a minimum of one to
three months. Other facilities may recommend a duration of six months to two
years.
A good residential treatment facility is able to respond to
varying levels of acuity. This allows it to scale up or down to meet the needs
of sicker or more agitated patients. The staff also works to ensure the
patient's privacy. The level of supervision in a residential treatment facility
can reduce risk for patients and help them recover in a more manageable
setting. The length of stay is a critical factor in the success of treatment.
A residential treatment facility's administrative hierarchy
is generally flat. The clinical director supervises the outpatient therapists,
and the medical director oversees the entire program. A patient's primary
contact will be the primary therapist. If a patient is ambivalent about
releasing information, communication between the resident and the outpatient
therapists may be delayed or nonexistent. A good residential treatment facility
will ensure that communication is maintained in a timely manner.
The residential treatment facility should offer an open door
policy for patients to communicate with their doctors. The administrative
hierarchy is important for the patient's safety and is important to the
recovery process. If a patient does not feel comfortable sharing their personal
information, he or she may need to stay in a residential unit. If he or she
does, he or she should find an outpatient facility that has open communication
policies. The best residential treatment facility will also be open to their
patients' needs and preferences.
A residential treatment facility has a flat administrative
hierarchy and a physician oversees the outpatient therapists. Typically, the
residential treatment facility is staffed with a psychiatrist and a clinical
director. Oftentimes, a physician will have a direct contact with a patient on
a regular basis, but sometimes this relationship can be tense. If a patient is
ambivalent about releasing information, it may be better to seek outpatient
treatment.
A residential treatment facility should also have flexible
staffing policies. The administrative hierarchy is flat and the staff of a
residential treatment facility should be able to respond to fluctuating levels
of acuity and mood. An effective residential treatment center should be staffed
with the right number of professionals to accommodate patients' needs. The
clinical director will supervise the psychiatrist and the therapists. Hence, a
physician will have to be available around the clock.
Some patients may be referred to a residential treatment
facility after undergoing inpatient hospitalization. Some of these patients
need a longer time to recover. They may not be able to live independently
without the care of a medical professional. A residential treatment facility
should provide support to the family in the form of an active, functioning
family. A caregiver should be able to care for a patient while the patient is
in a residential treatment facility.
