What to Expect at Hazelden Betty Ford Inpatient Treatment

Welcome to Hazelden Betty Ford’s Center for Teens, Young Adults, and Family Recovery. This can be a scary and turbulent time for families and patients alike. Please know that your loved one is in good hands and will be receiving high-quality care. We recognize that addiction takes a toll on the entire family, and we work to support the families of our patients. Below you will find an introduction to a few aspects of your loved one’s treatment journey. We value collaboration from families, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments. We are so grateful you chose us to support your family.

Supporting Your Loved One
Your loved one may reach out to you and share some uncomfortable feelings. They may be detoxing, homesick, unsure of themselves, angry, scared, or feeling hopeless. This is expected. Patients commonly experience many big emotions throughout the treatment process, and they often turn to their family for comfort. As a family member, your challenge is to respond to your loved one’s needs while also maintaining your own boundaries. Below are some phrases to help reassure your loved one and encourage them to continue with their treatment journey.

1. I am proud of you for being in treatment and working on yourself.
2. I understand your desire to leave and that it takes a lot of courage to stay.
3. I believe you. This is really hard, and I’m proud of you.
4. Doing the right thing does not always feel good. Sometimes it feels scary or difficult.
5. This is a great opportunity to rebuild what you truly want.
6. I hear you saying this is hard, and I’m proud of you for taking steps to recover.
7. I am not going to give up on you.
8. I love you.

Sample Daily Schedule (Weekdays)
At Hazelden Betty Ford, we know that structure best sets patients up for success. We have crafted a schedule that keeps patients occupied, encourages communication, and allows for supervised free time. Below is a sample daily treatment schedule. There will be differences between the units as well as on the weekends, but the components are mostly the same.

7:30 a.m.: Wake up and complete therapeutic job assignments. During this time, patients are able to practice their personal morning routines (washing face, brushing teeth, making bed, tidying personal area, etc.). Additionally, all patients work together to take care of their shared space, and everyone is assigned a chore to help maintain the unit. These chores include vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, wiping countertops, and other actions to help keep the space clean. There is therapeutic value in completing small tasks such as these.

8:00 a.m.: Breakfast. Patients eat all meals with their peers. Each unit travels to and from the cafeteria together. Our chefs prepare a variety of food for all meals, so your loved one is sure to find something suited to their liking and dietary needs. Patients have access to coffee and caffeinated tea until it runs out in early afternoon.

8:30 a.m.: Medications. All patients who take prescription medications and/or daily vitamins privately visit the nurse’s office, where they are provided with their meds. Medications are safely and securely stored away from patients, and medication compliance is reinforced during this time. Patients who have been determined to need nicotine patches to aid smoking cessation and withdrawal will receive them at this time; smoking and vaping are not allowed at this facility. If your loved one does not take daily medications, they can use this time to read, complete treatment assignments, journal, and talk with their peers.

9:30 a.m.: A lecture or community meeting.

10:00 a.m.: Structured free time. At Hazelden Betty Ford, we recognize that free time can be challenging for many folks in early recovery. Our goal is to help patients learn to spend free time in healthier ways while increasing tolerance for a more balanced daily pace. Many patients have previously filled time alone with drug and alcohol use or other harmful activities. In our care, your loved one will be introduced to healthy alternatives for time alone. These might include reading, writing, talking with peers, art, or music.

12:00 p.m.: Lunch.

12:30 p.m.: School or treatment work. At this time, all patients who are enrolled in school will have instruction in core classes as well as independent work time for schoolwork. Patients who are not currently students will be given time to complete their treatment assignments. Treatment work is completed in the patients’ bedrooms unless otherwise specified.

3:00 p.m.: Activities such as treatment group meetings, skills-based mental health group meetings, creative arts, or mental health sessions. This time of the day is dedicated to self-betterment. If participating in creative arts, your loved one might visit our art room, where they can paint, draw, or make collages. We also have a music room, where patients can explore different instruments.

4:00 p.m.: Specialized group or bookstore visit. This is a time for patients to participate in groups tailored to patient needs. They may also visit our bookstore, where we stock Twelve Step-based literature, educational books and pamphlets about mental health, and other relevant reading materials. Starting at 4 p.m. on weekdays, patients can access shared phones in their unit and make phone calls. Access to phones is cut off at 10 p.m.

5:00 p.m.: Wellness activity. During this time, your loved one is given supervised time to exercise. They have access to our gym, which includes a basketball court, weights, and cardio equipment. Patients enjoy being able to move their bodies, whether that be walking on a treadmill or playing games with their peers. When weather permits, patients are able to take supervised walks outdoors, and units can opt to have their wellness period outside.

6:00 p.m.: Dinner. Patients gather for the last meal of the day.

6:30 p.m.: Patient governance meeting (PGM). This is a time for patients to gather and review the state of their unit. PGM is patient led and is a time for units to bond and work together. It may be used for introductions, group activities, or reviewing unit expectations.

7:00 p.m.: The evening provides a slightly less structured time for your loved one to build relationships and connect with others. For one hour each evening, the unit will come together to read recovery literature, have a unit meeting, or listen to a volunteer speaker share their recovery story. The rest of the night is time that the patients can make phone calls and participate in leisure activities such as video games, movies, and additional gym, music, and art activities. Before in-rooms time, all patients will have the opportunity to meet with a nurse again for any nighttime meds.

10:00 p.m.: In rooms. At this time, patients are expected to return to their bedrooms. They will have time to do their nighttime routines (washing face, brushing teeth, etc.), and get any nighttime medications before getting into bed.

10:30 p.m.: Lights out.

Visiting, Phone Calls, and Mail
Reinforcing trust and communication within families is a fundamental pillar of our mission at Hazelden Betty Ford. We encourage patients and families to be in healthy contact with each other, and we provide multiple methods for you to communicate with your loved one:

Visitation
On Sundays, families (parents, legal guardians, and siblings) are able to visit their loved one. You must contact your loved one’s counselor to be added to the list of approved visitors. Below are the visiting hours for each unit:

Grace unit: 10 a.m.–11 a.m.
Pioneer unit: 1 p.m.–2 p.m.
Legacy unit: 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

We take the safety and security of our patients and their families very seriously. To optimize the visiting experience, we have implemented some requirements, as listed below:

1. Hand hygiene will be required prior to visiting.
2. If you would like to drop off supplies, such as snacks, toiletries, or books, please bring them into the facility with you. Staff will assist you in delivering the items to your loved one. Please consult your loved one’s counselor to discuss procedures for mailing or delivering items outside of visiting hours.
3. Please do not eat or drink while visiting.
4. Hazelden Betty Ford will have discretion to adjust or cease in-person visiting due to current community conditions.
5. Your loved one has access to snacks and vending machines during their stay. However, some patients prefer to have their own snacks. If bringing in food, please consider that there is a limited amount of storage space for each patient.
6. FaceTime and other video calls should be discussed with your loved one’s counselor directly.
7. If a visitor refuses to comply with the above procedures, they will be denied entry.

Phone Calls
On Monday through Friday, patients are permitted two 15-minute phone calls per day. They can access the shared unit phones from 4 p.m. through 10 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, patients are permitted three 15-minute calls per day. The phones are open from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Mail
All patients may send and receive mail. Please note that all mail and packages will be opened in the presence of a staff member.

Our mailing address is:
Hazelden Betty Ford
Unit: Grace, Pioneer, or Legacy
First name last name
11505 36th Ave N
Plymouth, MN 55441-2398

Notes
You are also able to leave notes for your loved one. If you would like to do so, please call the number listed below. Your message will be handwritten onto a small note and given to your loved one. Please limit your messages to a few positive words of encouragement.
(763) 509-3858

© 2023 Hazelden Publishing

The Daily Pledge is a free, online social community, made possible by the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy, that provides a source of support and fellowship to those touched by or concerned about the disease of addiction. The Daily Pledge provides healthy daily activities on the home page, which are viewable to all who might benefit from seeing others "recover out loud." This community's members include both people with addiction and family and friends of people with addiction. Our experience is that people with diverse experiences are able to help each other in unique and valuable ways. Learn more about the community by exploring the pages linked in the menu.