Changing Echoes FAQs

Changing Echoes is located in the quiet hills of Angels Camp, CA. The facility is in close proximity to several hotels, a hospital, restaurants, banks and shopping areas. The pleasant weather provides ideal conditions for outdoor activities, which Changing Echoes has plenty of.

We protect all personal health information in compliance with the standards of the national Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We only release health information with the signed consent of patients. The only exceptions to this rule are if a patient reports suicidal or homicidal intentions, physical or sexual abuse or neglect of oneself, a minor or an elderly person. In these instances, our staff is required by law to contact the authorities.

One of the benefits of going away to inpatient treatment is that it removes your loved one from the environment where they were using drugs and alcohol.

People, places, and things can trigger an individual to want to use again. Passing by a liquor store or drug dealer’s house can be very difficult in early recovery. The familiarity and ease of access can be a powerful temptation. Even running into acquaintances in treatment or at the local 12-step meetings can pose a problem. These triggers can be avoided by traveling out of the area.

It is also much harder to leave treatment (against medical advice) when there are no friends or family close by. We find patients have a much greater chance at success when they distance themselves from home.

Yes. Telephones are available, and patients can call family and friends to stay in touch. The only exception to this is when a patient first arrives and is in the detox phase. We will make a phone call with the patient to their family and notify them of the patient’s arrival. We find it is best for patients to stabilize medically before they begin making regular phone calls.

We want to keep patients focused on their recovery as much as possible, so we keep phone time limited to short calls. Please keep your conversations light and positive – this is not the time to bring up heavy issues or cause the patient any unneeded stress.

You can also call and leave messages for your loved one. Because of privacy, we will never confirm or deny a patient’s presence, but please feel free to leave them a message. We will make sure they receive it as soon as possible. To leave a message, call (800) 633-7066.

Our program is very successful when patients complete treatment and follow our recommendations for aftercare.

Often, treatment centers will quote 70 or 80 percent success rates for their patients, implying that all one has to do is come to treatment and there is a good chance they will be cured. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Treatment, and recovery, is about being willing, taking suggestions, and following through with them on a daily basis.

A good analogy is the person that goes to their doctor for an infection and is prescribed an antibiotic to take three times a day, every day. Instead, the person takes it once a day, every three days. The infection is probably not going to get better.

So again, patients that complete the treatment program, live in a sober environment, attend 12-step meetings, get a sponsor, and follow all the other suggestions they receive have an excellent chance at remaining clean and sober.

Our chef is hard at work to create and delivery wholesome, nutritious, and comforting meals. Hot meals are prepared and served three times a day. There is also a fresh salad bar with fruits and vegetables available at every meal. We also have snacks and sodas available in our convenient vending machines located in the lobby.

Recreation in recovery is very important. We offer the following activities in which everyone can participate:

-swimming pool

-horseshoes

-gym

-basketball

-trails for walking

-bonfire meetings

We want patients to engage in fun sober activities so they realize there are good times to be had without drugs or alcohol.

Yes, insurance is welcomed. The majority of our patients use private health insurance to pay for treatment. We are in network with many PPO insurance plans. We also accept all major credit cards for those who want to pay cash.

Yes, you can send letters or cards to your loved one – we deliver them to patients every day at 4:30. You may also include appropriate photos.

We also will deliver small packages. Some things you may send are shoes and clothing and recovery-related reading material.

Our mailing address is:

Changing Echoes

7632 Pool Station Rd, Angels Camp, CA 95222-9620

We provide for all of our patient’s needs, so they do not have to worry about bringing money. We provide all of their meals, we cover any off-site activities that require money, and we pre-arrange for medication charges. However, patients may bring a small amount of money for items like cigarettes and vending machines.

It is very helpful for a patient to know they have family and friends supporting them. To best help your loved one, you should:

• Fill out the family packet we mail you
• Be available for any phone calls with your loved one and their counselor
• Mail supportive cards or letters
• Attend local support groups for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts, including Al-Anon and Codependents Anonymous
• Offer to help with day-to-day responsibilities while your loved one is away, such as picking up mail or watching pets
• Avoid arguments, drama, or heavy conversations.
• Follow any suggestions made to you by your loved one’s counselor

We offer 20-minute Zoom meetings every Sunday for any patient that wishes to have one. We also have open AA Meetings every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and open NA Meetings every Thursday night from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Family and friends are more than welcome to attend the meetings and may arrive 15 minutes early to visit with their loved one before the meeting starts. We ask that no children under the age of 12 attend those meetings.

Clients have semi-private rooms with clean furnishings and accessible bathrooms. There are common areas located in the facility where they can read, play games, and socialize with others. There are staff members on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle any patient needs.

If you are a provider and need to send us a patient’s medical records or you need to request a patient’s medical records from Changing Echoes, fax us at (209) 785-5238.