Outtolunch,
The place my son is at, the advice was "as long as possible" to take time out for one's self. I do not think one person there is paying for themself in the 1/2 wh. They do not work in the 1/2 wh. School work is frowned on in the first two months.
When we as a family began this journey each in our own way. The "enabling" was something my husband and I questioned after attending the lectures and meeting on enabling. Wasn't this Enabling? By paying for the recovery stay. Then again if we did not pay, he could not be there. We had to come to a place in our minds that this was the best form of suppport we could ever offer. Otherwise it could become a big circle. This is our one and only offer in life for him.
So I understand most do not have the option, some do, most do at the facility my son is at. I fully expect when he leaves there he will return to work and school. Just questioned how long for most. But I understand there is no timeline set in stone.