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Let’s discuss the five essential characteristics of a good sober living home. Finding the right sober living home can be a daunting task, as it is a crucial step in the recovery journey. For some, it serves as the next step after inpatient treatment, while for others, it may be their initial step toward recovery.
It’s vital to find a sober living home that meets individual needs. While there is a perfect sober living home for everyone, it’s important to ensure the home you choose includes these five key characteristics: accountability, support, structure, community, and purpose. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Top 5 Signs of a Good Sober Living Home
Accountability
Accountability in a good sober living home is crucial and is best achieved when the house manager is a full-time, compensated employee. When the house manager is merely a senior resident receiving free rent, they often lack the authority and capacity to enforce the home’s rules effectively.
A full-time house manager ensures residents are following the rules: getting out of bed, going to work or fulfilling their responsibilities, and not spending the day watching TV or smoking cigarettes. They also enforce curfews, conduct drug testing, and manage technology-assisted care if available.
Technology-assisted care is a newer feature that not all sober living homes have implemented yet. However, the best sober living homes use technology-assisted care to enhance accountability. This technology provides a higher level of oversight, ensuring residents follow through with their commitments, complete their chores, call their sponsor, and attend meetings daily.
Many apps offer GPS tracking, so when residents check in at a meeting, their location is verified. Drug testing should be conducted randomly twice a week to be preventative, not just when substance use is suspected.
Support
Support in a good sober living home involves creating a stable community where residents typically stay for more than 90 days, ideally between 90 days to a year. If a sober living house accepts weekly payments, residents might leave prematurely without facing any consequences, often due to having a bad day, a disagreement, or dissatisfaction with the house manager.
Providing incentives for longer stays encourages residents to work through their challenges and remain in the supportive environment for at least 90 days. Additionally, support includes offering healthy groceries and gym memberships, which contribute to fostering a strong community structure.
Structure
A structured environment is essential in a good sober living home. This includes a 12-step based program, daily chores, weekly house meetings, and clear expectations. Residents should wake up by 8 o’clock, complete their chores, attend meetings, call their sponsor, participate in weekly house meetings, adhere to curfew, and undergo regular drug testing.
This structure helps individuals in early recovery develop new lifestyle habits, which is the ultimate goal of sober living. Forming these new habits and behaviors typically takes at least 90 days, and evidence shows that 90 days in a sober living environment is the optimal start for recovery.
Community
Building a strong community is another key aspect of a high-quality sober living home. Family-style dinners, where the home provides food and groceries, help foster a sense of community. The idea that families who eat and pray together stay together applies here as well. Cooking and eating together reduces hostility and isolation, promoting human connection, which is essential for long-term recovery and sobriety.
Purpose
Purpose in a sober living home means that residents must engage in productive activities daily, such as attending school, going to work, participating in an outpatient program, undergoing hospitalization, or volunteering.
This daily engagement is essential for their recovery, helping them build a sense of responsibility and direction. Staying active prevents residents from falling into old habits and supports the development of new, healthy routines. Moreover, having a purpose gives residents a sense of accomplishment and self-worth, which are crucial for maintaining long-term sobriety.
Top Rated Sober Living Home in Wichita Kansas
At Resilient Home Living, we offer more than just a place to stay; we provide a community dedicated to fostering long-term sobriety and personal growth. Our structured environment, supportive community, and focus on accountability and purpose make us the ideal choice for those on their recovery journey.
Reach out to us at (316) 749-8029 or email contact@resilienthomeliving.com to learn more about our program and how we can assist in your sobriety journey. Whether you’re seeking a place for yourself or a loved one, discover the advantages of choosing Resilient Home Living as your partner in recovery.