An adult child leaving home for the first time and moving out alone can be a scary proposition. It can also be an exciting one. For many young people, living independently is a rite of passage that signals growing up, maturing as a person, and taking responsibility for their own life. For parents, this can be bittersweet and poignant; you’ll miss your child when they leave home, but you’ll also breathe a sigh of relief once they move out and start taking care of themselves without parental oversight. When your child decides to move out of your house, you might feel apprehensive about letting them go. After all, it means they will no longer have ready access to meals cooked by you or clean sheets laundered by you at the end of every week. But with the right support in place, having that independence can be safe and beneficial for them.
Decide What You Want From a Recovery Home
Before looking for recovery homes in San Francisco for yourself or your child, it’s important to decide what you want from this experience. What kind of environment will best support your recovery? Do you need a place that’s close to where you work? One that offers 12-step meetings on-site? Or a place that has specific hours for childcare? Do you want to live with other people or do you prefer solitude? And what level of support do you need? Is medical care needed? What kind of food restrictions do you have? Is a place that allows pets important to you? The first step is to decide what you need in an adult living or recovery home.
Finding the Right Recovery Home for You
As you search for a recovery home, remember that this is not a one-size-fits-all experience. You can choose from a diverse range of living situations, and you can even find places that offer you a combination of services, such as a recovery home that provides therapy services. You may want to start by asking other people in recovery about their experiences. You can ask questions on the S-Anon or S-Anon Family Groups Facebook pages if you’re on social media. Another good place to look is the National Directory of Single Residency Mapping, a database of information on recovery homes across the US. You can also call your insurance company and ask for referrals or call a local treatment center and see if they have any recommendations.
Check Out the Facility and Staffing
Visiting a few different places will help you assess the service quality and provide a sense of what life is like there. Before you go, make a list of questions that are important to you and your situation. When visiting a recovery home, some important questions include: What is the staff-to-resident ratio? How often does the house staff meet? What is the average length of stay? What services are offered? How does the staff deal with conflict? At the facility, look at the physical plant and the folks who work there. If the place is clean, people are friendly, and there is a sense of organization, that’s a good sign. Pay attention to what the other residents are doing and how they behave. If there’s lots of chaos, people aren’t dressed, or there is a lot of confusion, that may be a sign that the home isn’t right for you.
Start Your Search During the Day
If you’re a parent considering putting your child into a recovery home, you might be wondering whether you should look for facilities that are open 24/7. The short answer is: no, you shouldn’t. You should look for open facilities during the day—during the hours that you and your child will be awake. This will help you better understand how the facility operates and how the staff interacts with your child when they are fully functional. You may want to ask for a tour at different times to see how the facility is run on a normal day, what stays the same, and what changes. For example, if there is a group therapy session during the day but not at night, you’ll get a better sense of how the group operates and what people are like when they are fully awake and participating.
Conclusion
Finally, make sure you ask pertinent questions during the application process. Find out as much as possible about the facility and its services. There is no such thing as a silly question. You are looking for the best possible fit for yourself and your family. If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. If you’re not getting the answers you need, don’t be afraid to walk away. You deserve a place that feels right and fits you well. And make sure you’re applying to the right place. Do you have a loved one in recovery who needs to find a recovery home? Make sure you’re applying to the right place. It’s important to find the right fit for yourself and your family.
