Liftware's stabilizing eating utensils, through holiday price reduction and donation programs, will be made more affordable for 11 million Americans with essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Liftware (www.liftware.com), a stabilizing handle with a selection of attachments, helps people with tremor (essential tremor, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis) eat with ease. Today, the company announced it will reduce its price for the holiday season by one hundred dollars, selling now for $195. The promotion will run through December 31, 2015. Liftware also announced that it would work with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to extend the reach of Liftware's donation programs and help make the product accessible to more people who need it, regardless of income.
"More than half of all the devices we ship are gifts to friends and family members. Our biggest motivation is to help more people and make it easier to put a Liftware device into the hands of everyone who needs one this holiday season," said Anupam Pathak, Liftware founder.
In addition to making the device more affordable, Liftware will kick off this year's Giving Tuesday with a "buy one, give one" matching program. For every device purchased during the week of December 1, Liftware will donate a device to one of its charitable partners to be distributed to people who could not otherwise access a device.
Since its first year on the market, Liftware has partnered with the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) and other foundations dedicated to the diseases that cause debilitating tremor.
"The IETF is dedicated to offering hope to those affected by essential tremor," said Patrick McCartney, IETF Executive Director. "The Foundation's partnership with Liftware is synergistic as we actively work together to generate greater awareness of essential tremor and offer support to those affected by this life-altering condition by subsidizing the cost of Liftware for people in financial need."
In addition to the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF), similar donation programs are in effect with The Michael J. Fox Foundation and the National Parkinson Foundation.
"Movement disorders affect the ability to carry out basic activities of daily living, including eating. For some individuals with Parkinson's, feelings of self-consciousness may cause them to withdraw from social and family situations, contributing to feelings of isolation," said Todd Sherer, PhD, Michael J. Fox Foundation CEO. "We're enthusiastic about the potential of emerging technologies, including specialized devices like Liftware, to help people with PD live well with their disease while we continue our urgent pursuit of breakthrough treatments and a cure."
Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, which appear more often among the elderly, are disorders of the central nervous system that cause sufferers to shake involuntarily. There are more than 10 million people in the US alone with essential tremor today and an estimated 1 million with Parkinson's disease. And though it's sometimes tied to other neurological conditions, for many of the 10 million Americans with essential tremor, the cause is unknown, according to the American Neurological Association.
"Customers frequently share stories of how Liftware's technology has helped them and their letters cover our walls," said Pathak. "Their stories have inspired us and we are committed to making this product more readily available to millions of people who need it."
Liftware is available through the company's online store and Amazon.com. Veterans can also check with their local Veterans Affairs (VA) Offices and inquire about available benefits for Liftware. During the 2015 holiday season, a stabilizing handle and soup spoon attachment costs $195.00, includes a storage bag and battery charger and ships for free within the United States. The stabilizing handle works with fork and everyday spoon attachments sold separately for $34.95 each.
About Liftware
Liftware (www.liftware.com) focuses on improving the quality of life and independence for people living with neurological disorders like Essential Tremor and Parkinson's disease. The Liftware team, comprised of scientists and engineers, is developing smart devices that stabilize tremor and allows sufferers to complete daily tasks more comfortably.
Liftware's first product is a stabilizing handle and a selection of utensil attachments, including soup spoon, everyday spoon and fork that help people with a hand tremor eat more easily. In a National Institute of Health funded clinical trial, the Liftware device canceled out more than 70 percent of a user's tremor.
In fall 2014, Liftware was acquired by the life sciences team at Google, and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
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SOURCE Liftware
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