Whether you are getting ready to start an alcohol or drug rehab program or nearing the end of it and planning your aftercare, you may be wondering whether sober living homes should be a part of your rehab treatment. To help you determine the most appropriate treatment to benefit your recovery and sobriety, let’s explore what sober living homes can provide and what you can expect.
What is a Sober Living Home?
A sober living home is a stepping-stone between exiting an addiction treatment program and returning home to the real world. Many people can feel scared, unsure, or not yet ready to completely resume their everyday routines. Quite often, they are still adjusting to living sober and how it will fit into their new lifestyle.
Moving into a sober living home provides residential housing where people can continue outpatient rehab treatment or begin to transition into their aftercare program. As the name implies, sober living homes offer a safe, secure, and supportive sober environment to help reduce the risks of lapses and relapses.
Sober Living Home vs. Halfway House
A sober living home and halfway house offer similar opportunities to recover in a sober environment. However, there are some key differences you need to be aware of, such as:
- Halfway houses have a set residency limit. You are only given a set length of time to recover and must move out, even when you are not ready. You can remain in sober living homes for however long you deem necessary.
- Before moving into a halfway house, you must have completed an addiction treatment program. To move into a sober living home, you must have completed rehab or currently be in an outpatient or intensive inpatient program.
- The amenities and activities offered by halfway houses vary since many homes receive support from various government programs. Conversely, rehab treatment centers usually support sober living houses, so the same level of care and support is consistent.
- Some halfway houses also allow former convicts to reside in them once they are released from prison and are on parole. However, a sober living home only accepts residents who are in recovery or undergoing rehab treatment.
What Makes Sober Living Programs Effective?
Sober living homes are effective because they continue to provide a structured environment one becomes accustomed to during residential treatment. In addition, residents have a specific set of rules they must follow. Otherwise, they will be asked to leave. These rules include some of the following:
- No alcohol or substance use
- Regular screenings for alcohol or substance use
- Mandatory participation in group support meetings, house meetings, and other activities
- No offensive or lewd behaviors or foul language
- Having a set of chores that each resident completes, like making one’s bed and keeping one’s room clean
- Set bedtimes and waking times
What is a Typical Day Like in a Sober Living Home?
A typical day in a sober living home provides some freedom and flexibility for residents. Everyone will have real-life responsibilities, such as working a job or attending school. Most residents also have the freedom to come and go as they please. As such, individual daily schedules can vary.
Keeping this in mind, a typical day at a sober living home usually includes:
- Waking up at a set time
- Making one’s bed
- Helping prepare breakfast and eating with the other residents
- Leaving the home to work, attend school, or for outpatient rehab treatment
- Returning home by a set curfew
- Participating in daily group support meetings
- Assisting with preparing dinner and eating with the other residents
- Performing other daily chores assigned, like vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, doing the dishes, etc.
- Free time to do what you want, such as watching TV, reading, socializing with other residents, etc.
- Lights out at a set time each evening when you go to bed
There is also time set aside in the mornings and evenings for residents to shower or bathe.
Is Sober Living Right for You?
To decide if a sober living home is right for you, you need to evaluate where you are in your recovery by asking yourself the following:
- Do you feel ready to return home and jump back into your everyday routines?
- Does the thought of returning home cause you to feel overwhelmed or scared?
- Do you lack a support system at home?
- Do you want extra time to focus on your new sobriety without excessive outside distractions?
- Are you afraid you will relapse once you are around family members or friends?
- Do you feel you could benefit from the additional support you receive in a sober living home?
- Do you want extra time to transition while continuing to learn responsibility and accountability for your actions?
If you answered no to the first question and answered yes to one or more of the other questions, then a sober living home could be right for you.
Continue Your Recovery at a Sober Living Home in Palm Desert, CA
When you want to continue working on your newfound sobriety by transitioning to a sober living home, Phoenix Rising Recovery in Palm Desert, California, is here to help. We offer a sober living program you can transition to after completing our residential rehab program or while participating in one of our outpatient programs.
For more information about our sober living program, please feel free to contact us today.