Comparing Acute and Residential Treatment

     If you have never dealt with either residential treatment centers or acute treatment centers, you may not understand the difference between the two treatment options. If are considering either option, you may want to learn about the differences so you know who to contact and understand how your needs will be served.

Acute TreatmentAn acute treatment center deals with issues that are “acute”, which is to say the patient may be an immediate danger to themselves or others. There are several reason why one might seek out acute care. Suicidal plans, homicidal plans, dangerous behavior such as cutting on one's self or even and overdose. In cases like these, the treatment needs to be very focused and will include a more intense medical program.

For instance, a detox from drugs can be painful and dangerous, which is why it is done on an acute unit. Even the staff numbers differ on an acute unit since the issues are more intense and dangerous. Staff members on an acute unit also document the behavior of the patients on a more frequent basis than they do in a residential treatment center. Think of the acute unit as the emergency room of mental and/or behavioral health. The concept is to quickly stabilize the patient and make sure they are no longer a danger to themselves or others.

    Residential TreatmentA residential treatment center is completely different from an acute treatment center. For one thing, patients in an acute treatment center usually only stay for a matter of days, but in residential treatment centers they stay for weeks or months.

    A residential setting is a long term setting that can deal with acute issues, but is not in place to provide acute care upon admittance. This is why many patients are transferred from acute care to residential care. There are fewer staff members in place in a residential setting and the routine often includes activities that are not allowed in acute units because of safety issues. Contact with the outside world is still limited, but current events may be discussed and contact with the outside world is gradually increased.

    Both of these methods of treatment have their place and you may expect to be referred to one but end up being referred to another. Discuss your options with your intake counselor so that you can understand the reasoning behind the options presented to you. Ask all the questions you need to. Most intake counselors are very familiar with the anxiety that family members experience and are willing to help you develop your understanding with no pressure at all.