How to Choose a Sofa for a Mental Health Facility
As mental health patients in hospitals try to recover from their illnesses, social support and group activities are particularly beneficial. In many mental health units, there is a communal lounge for patients to sit, relax and talk.
So, how can you choose the right sofa for your communal lounge and what are the most important features to look out for when making your choice?
Strong and robust
The lounge in your mental health facility is likely to see a lot of usage over a long period of time. Therefore, any furniture must be robust, strong and hard-wearing, in a similar way to your mental health beds. It is essential to choose a sofa that can endure heavy-duty wear without degrading. Choosing a sofa such as the Extreme Ellerton Sofa ensures that you can meet these demands and that your furniture will facilitate use by a large volume of patients. The sofa also needs to be sturdy and durable against violent outbursts, with the capability of withstanding a range of mental health conditions and behaviours.
Safety first
It is very important to check that the sofa you choose is boarded out on all impact areas to reduce the risk of damage and there should be no internal webbing. In order to ensure the safety of patients and staff, it is extremely beneficial to check there are no visible staples on which patients could intentionally or accidentally injure themselves or someone else. This limits the risk of potential harm to your patients and keeps them safe and happy. Anti-tamper mechanisms can also protect patient safety too.
Stylish design
As well as all the practical considerations that need to be taken into account, when considering the overall image of your communal lounge, the need for relaxing visual aesthetics must also be considered. Studies have shown that different colours can influence mood. Therefore, opting for a sofa with a wide range of colour options allows you to tailor your colour scheme accordingly.
Comfort
Of course, don't forget to check that the sofa is comfortable too, as this is one of the most important features of any sofa. The Extreme Ellerton Sofa, for example, is a very comfortable option for both residential and commercial environments and will deliver comfort alongside safety, strength and style.
For an extensive range of heavy-duty beds, reinforced furniture and stylish heavy-duty sofas, please contact Reinforced Beds today.