Levo Reduced-Ligature Recliner – Pineapple Contracts

Nominee Information

Levo is an innovative reduced-ligature recliner combining safety, comfort, and aesthetics. Its modern, minimalist design is combined with robust safety features and ergonomic comfort which makes it a valuable addition to mental health environments.

Patients living with mental health disorders also experience higher frequencies of physical illnesses including cardiovascular¹, respiratory² and metabolic³ disorders. These comorbidities can result in patients with complex mobility needs who can benefit from the restful and repositionable nature of a reclining chair. For some patients with respiratory illnesses, a semi recumbent position like provided by Levo can lower the risk of lung compression and improve respiratory performance.

There are also environments like crisis assessment units where patients may be in a heightened state of anxiety and distress, and require a comfortable, reassuring space to spend up to 72 hours while their needs are evaluated. Many reclining chairs can present safety risks in mental health environments, either due to their controls (handles, buttons and electric handsets) or their reclining mechanisms, which may be tampered with or used as a ligature point.

The Levo reduced-ligature reclining chair has been designed to minimise these risks. Activated by body weight alone, there are no external controls which could otherwise be used to form a ligature. Unlike traditional recliners, Levo’s reclining mechanism has been concealed to reduce tampering and minimise ligature risks. Levo is a versatile option which can be used for sitting and short periods of sleep.

Levo is available in a variety of fabrics finishes and 15 colour options for the base, which can either be used in a complementary or contrasting colour scheme, giving extensive personalisation options. The base and armrests are constructed from a single piece of durable waterproof polymer, while the seat and back are made from combustion modified high resilience (CMHR) foam upholstered in a wide range of wipe-clean vinyl fabrics.

For added safety and security, Levo is available with additional weighting (to 134kg) to prevent it from being picked up or moved, creating a safer environment for patients and staff.

 

 

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References

¹Nielsen RE, Banner J, Jensen SE. Cardiovascular disease in patients with severe mental illness. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2021;18(2):136–145

²Brown S, Kim M, Mitchell C, Inskip H: Twenty-five year mortality of a community cohort with schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 2010;196:116-121

³Wysokinski A, Strzelecki D, Kloszewska I. Levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, HDL and glucose in patients with schizophrenia, unipolar depression and bipolar disorder. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2015;9:168–176