During these past few months marked by stay-at-home restrictions, the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors has been more appreciated than ever. No matter how open or restrictive a group-living setting is, outdoor spaces can serve as environments of serenity as your customers seek to enjoy the full benefits of the open air.

The design of outdoor spaces should reflect the welcoming, home-like environment sought in interior design. Courtyards with inviting design can serve the multiple purposes of providing opportunities for group recreation and individual reflection. Choosing the right materials for furnishing these settings will maximize the year-round use of your outdoor space, striking the correct balance between all-weather durability and aesthetic charm.

Products in Furniture Concepts' Collection of outdoor furniture offer a classic style, while the Behren's Collection can create a more rustic look. These products are crafted from kiln-dried pressure treated southern yellow pine or Premium Uwharrie Polymer, and are warrantied for a lifetime against decay, water damage and other harms. These pieces and their companion options can help turn outdoor spaces into valued gathering places for the individuals you serve.

Demand for behavioral healthcare likely will continue to climb as a result of the coronavirus crisis, but concerns about the safety of health facilities have given pause to many people as they consider pursuing treatment. There never has been a better time for your organization to establish a fully functioning culture of safety.

In organizations with a thriving safety culture, staff members serve as the safety net for patients. As The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare states, “Trust is the foundation of a safety culture. Trust leads concerned employees to report unsafe events and identify opportunities for improvement. When leaders respond positively to these opportunities, employees are further motivated to report, which in turn results in more improvement and builds even greater levels of trust.” The Joint Commission center has initiated a program to help health care organizations improve their culture of safety, an area where the health field is seen as lagging behind other industries.

Staff members thrive in environments that maximize safety for patients and themselves. At Furniture Concepts, we offer many options that give staff the peace of mind to know their work is being conducted in a truly healing and safety-conscious environment.

Our ligature-resistant furniture, open shelving, and sloped tops on wardrobes and storage cabinets limit risk to patients and make for ease of staff inspection. We offer upholstered motion seating that gives patients the comfort of rocking and gliding, enhancing the relaxed setting that everyone values during a time of upheaval in the world around us.

In these therapeutic environments, all staff can work together to help put patients at ease amid the great uncertainty about the future. As Joint Commission President Mark R. Chassin states, “In a health care organization that has a fully functional safety culture, everyone in the organization is engaged in safety.”


https://www.centerfortransforminghealthcare.org/en/

The events of the last few weeks related to COVID-19 are creating pressure on healthcare providers of all sorts. Health & human services, behavioral healthcare, addiction recovery, and shelter providers will undoubtedly experience an increased need for programming as our country deals with the ongoing public health crisis. Our nation’s most vulnerable; including those at risk of hunger, at risk of losing housing and at risk of mental health or behavioral health emergency will be turning to providers already overwhelmed by demand.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking and tragic situation that can take place in a treatment center is patient suicide. And while it is just not possible to prevent every attempt at self-harm, progress toward minimizing these acts is being made. One important factor in the fight against self-harm is to use ligature-resistant furniture.

As the year winds down, you’re probably seeking out a few traditional moments of peace. Whether it’s holiday gatherings with family or annual reflections on your professional accomplishments, setting worries aside is a universally healing experience.