Lively Now Shipping for $149 to Help Older Adults Remain Independent Longer
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 17, 2013 -- Lively (http://www.mylively.com), which offers an activity-sharing product that helps older adults live at home longer, today announced that its product is now available for families to order. Lively also is announcing its Series A financing, totaling $4.8M, led by Cambia Health Solutions, the largest health solutions corporation in the Pacific Northwest, with additional participation from Lively’s seed investor, Maveron.
Lively’s product has two components that form the basis of activity sharing between generations: a connected device that uses passive activity sensors that are applied to everyday objects in the older adult’s home and LivelyGram, a printed mailer that shares what their younger family members are up to. With its launch today, Lively gives people a better way live at home longer and eliminates the need for grown children to ‘parent-sit’ their mom and dads. To view a video showcasing how Lively works click here.
“Lively’s two-way activity sharing supports a new movement that is concerned with the social side of aging as opposed to traditional lines of thinking that view old age as a medical condition to be treated,” says Iggy Fanlo, CEO and co-founder of Lively. “It accounts for the whole person and their psychological needs, such as staying connected to family members and friends – which has been proven to promote better health and longevity.”
Research has shown that older adults fear loss of independence and moving into nursing home more than they fear death. Additionally, according to an AARP survey, 89 percent of people over age 65 say they’re better off staying in their homes. Lively aims to solve the dilemma for up to 40 million older adults living at home in the U.S., Canada and Europe who want to stay independent and the 100+ million loved ones that worry about their health and well-being when they’re living alone at home.
“Families face stress and anxiety as they manage the emotional and practical challenges of helping older family members live on their own,” adds Lively COO and Co-Founder David Glickman. “But while other products for older adults sell based on fear, Lively offers a way for everyone to collectively pursue the goal of retained independence while fostering richer social interaction along the way.”
“Lively offers the first well-designed, easy-to-use and affordable solution that will do for older adults what Nike and Fitbit have done for fitness enthusiasts; socialize activity data in order to enable personal and family objectives,” says Director of Strategic Investments at Cambia Health Solutions, Tom Rodgers. “They’ve truly set themselves apart in their field as a consumer-friendly, market-driven solution with the ultimate goal to keep older adults in their own homes for as long as possible.”
Lively’s Activity Sensors
Lively’s hardware uses built-in cellular technology with passive activity sensors that track day-to-day patterns like kitchen activity (to understand when meals are prepared or consumed), time spent getting outside and when medication is taken. With this knowledge, loved ones can worry less and avoid asking nagging questions such as, “Did you eat?” or “Did you get outside today?” And the simple device stays out of the way -- no video cameras, nothing to wear, and no complicated installation required to use it. An at-a-glance online display can be shared via the web or smartphone, and notifications update the user and the circle of people whom they choose to share their activities. Lively’s system is easy to set up and does not require any home internet connection or phone line to use in deference to the nearly 65 percent of older adults age 75+ that lack internet access.
Lively’s Offline Family Newsletter
Lively’s activity sharing also includes LivelyGram, which gives younger generations and other family members a creative way to share the events of their lives. Once a circle of family and friends are invited to contribute to a personalized LivelyGram, pictures and short messages that are submitted are automatically turned into a printed mailer that arrives in an older adult’s physical mailbox twice monthly. It’s easy to include any picture saved on the computer or photos directly from a Facebook, Instagram, Picassa or Flickr account. Short messages and sweet hellos for LivelyGrams can be submitted from any computer, tablet or smartphone (iPhone support available now; Android coming soon).
Lively is currently available in the U.S.; versions planned for other International markets will be announced by Q4 2013. A one-time cost of $149 includes two months of free service with LivelyGram. After two months, its pay-as-you-go subscription is only $19.95 per month with no contract required and easily cancellable at any time.
ClicktoTweet: Help older adults remain in their own home longer. Order @mylively for a better way for them to share how they’re doing & stay connected.
About Lively
Lively was founded by Iggy Fanlo, David Glickman, and Keith Dutton in the summer of 2012 and is headquartered in San Francisco. With collective backgrounds that include working at some of the world’s most innovative consumer product companies, they’ve formed a vibrant team of talented individuals who share a passion for changing the way older adults stay connected across generations.
Kimberly Angell, Wish Public Relations, (415) 471-7272, [email protected]
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