Behavioral healthcare and correctional facilities demand well-built, long-lasting and exceptionally safe furniture. Whether you’re furnishing a facility for the first time, or looking for ways to improve your facility, this blog provides a simple guide to anti-ligature furniture, and why it is the top choice for demanding environments.
Simply put, anti-ligature furniture is any piece of furniture which prevents a ligature from being secured. This requires the elimination of any points where rope, cord, bed sheets or other materials can be tied down, which could be used to cause harm to oneself or others.
Anti-ligature furniture prevents residents from using the furniture’s hardware to cause harm. Additionally, anti-ligature furniture should make full contact with the floor or wall and be secured to prevent any movement of the furniture.
Anti-ligature furniture is crucial in institutional facilities for many reasons, but first and foremost is safety.
The design of anti-ligature furniture puts safety first, which is extremely important in areas which may have less staff supervision, such as resident rooms. Choosing an anti-ligature bed ensures resident safety, without sacrificing comfort. In turn, anti-ligature furniture gives staff members peace of mind, knowing residents cannot use their surroundings dangerously.
The look and feel of anti-ligature furniture can also contribute to creating a more rehabilitative atmosphere, especially compared to the harsh design and construction of traditional institutional furniture.
Anti-ligature furniture can be used in every room of your facility, but is especially important in resident’s living areas.
Resident Rooms
Anti-ligature furniture must be installed in resident rooms as these areas tend to have less staff supervision, making the need for anti-ligature furniture paramount. This may include beds, writing desks, storage shelves and even nightstands.
Dining Halls
In areas residents interact with one another and staff members, it is important the furniture cannot be used dangerously. Anti-ligature furniture in dining halls should be either ballasted or mounted to the floor to prevent any unauthorized movement.
Common Areas
Living areas such as recreation rooms, day rooms or even rooms used for group sessions should feature anti-ligature furniture to keep both residents and staff out of harm’s way. This could include installing armchairs to promote comfort and relaxation, or games tables to promote positive interactions between residents.
When choosing anti-ligature furnishing for your facility, a number of considerations should be made, including durability and longevity. The right piece of anti-ligature furniture should be able to withstand the intensive, everyday use in a challenging environment, while still maintaining safety.
Other considerations include the ease of cleaning and maintenance, versatility, comfort, and aesthetics. Where traditional institutional furniture may require expensive maintenance and replacement, the right piece of anti-ligature furniture should serve your facility for years to come, without sacrificing safety or comfort.
The positive effects of installing anti-ligature furniture can be seen and felt throughout an entire behavioral healthcare or correctional facility. Not only does anti-ligature furniture increase safety by eliminating tie-down points; roto-molded anti-ligature furniture also eliminates possibility of concealing contraband.
Apart from improving safety, the installation of anti-ligature furniture creates a more welcoming environment which can help residents feel more at ease during an already stressful time. As such, anti-ligature furniture promotes a rehabilitative atmosphere while reducing the stress of both residents and staff members.
Behavioral healthcare and correctional facilities alike can benefit from the installation of anti-ligature furniture!
For over 40 years Max-Secure has been working with industry experts to design anti-ligature furniture with the specific and unique needs of correctional and psychiatric facilities in mind. From resident room furniture, such as beds, desks and even shelving, to dinning and dayroom furniture, our commitment to safety shines. Our extensive product range ensures there is a high-quality piece of anti-ligature furniture for every need. Start reaping the benefits of Max-Secure’s anti-ligature furniture now!
