Residential Care Homes for Substance Misuse

There are many terms and definitions used for types of social care, including ‘care home, ‘residential home’ and ‘nursing home’. Generally speaking, ‘Care Home’ is the umbrella term and refers to residences which may provide accommodation along with personal or nursing care for people who misuse drugs and alcohol.

Residential care homes for alcohol and drug misusers have to support  people with a wide range of needs.  People who misuse alcohol and drugs often have a range of problems which may contribute to, or be made worse by, substance misuse. Therefore, a residential care home is only one part of a range of rehabilitation services.

A residential care for people who misuse drugs and alcohol is ideal for those who need supervised accommodation because they cannot live independently in their own home.  However, a residential care home can also offer ‘time out’ from the individual’s own home. The service user may have complex problems which can best be addressed in a residential setting.

Residential care homes for substance misuse will often provide care for a specific age, complexity or length of illness, and but can be for acute care or for enduring, long term care.  Care homes offer the opportunity to receive intensive support, including physical and social care, and to take part in programmes where the individual can gain new skills.  Care homes help many people to overcome the initial phases of withdrawal and to start making lifestyle changes that will allow them to continue in recovery.

Care homes can be run by private companies (individuals or larger groups), charities or local authorities.  Whoever owns them, all care homes should be registered and monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
 

Mark Sadler