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Spoon that steadies tremors may prevent aspiration for those with shakes

Applause for inventors and investors for applying resources to life-enhancing technology

I have long believed home is the best place for any person with a severe medical condition, provided they can meet their basic self-care needs. For people living with Parkinson’s Disease and other conditions that cause tremors, the most basic task of eating can be a complex and frustrating ordeal.

Eating can also be dangerous. A spoonful of soup or thin food can quickly become an aspiration risk if the timing of swallowing is off just a bit because of a sudden spoon shake. Aspiration can cause an immediate airway compromise and create long-term potential pneumonia. Both of which can lead to ambulance transport and hospitalization.

The Liftware spoon is a remarkable technology that adjusts to the patients’ tremors. I applaud the inventors and investors for applying their know-how and resources to a technology that helps patients with tremor-causing diseases.

Do you recall patients that could have benefited from the Liftware spoon? How might your service support deployment of life-enhancing products like this in your community?

Greg Friese, MS, NRP, is the Lexipol Editorial Director, leading the efforts of the editorial team on Police1, FireRescue1, Corrections1 and EMS1. Greg served as the EMS1 editor-in-chief for five years. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree from the University of Idaho. He is an educator, author, national registry paramedic since 2005, and a long-distance runner. Greg was a 2010 recipient of the EMS 10 Award for innovation. He is also a three-time Jesse H. Neal award winner, the most prestigious award in specialized journalism, and the 2018 and 2020 Eddie Award winner for best Column/Blog. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn.