Tag Archives: uber

October 5, 2025 · 8:35 am

Uber adds ‘senior accounts’ to support rides for older people

I’ve written many times on this blog about the importance of helping older people maintain their independence as long as possible. Transportation is one of the most critical elements for independence. Uber is adding a service that will allow families to coordinate rideshare services with their older family members. Previously, Uber launched Uber Caregiver as part of its Uber Health initiatives.

My parents were fortunate that even though they lived in a small mountain town, there was a county shuttle service that served low-income and older people. It was door to door service, meaning my parents could get to doctor’s appointments and the grocery store as well as go to the movie theatre and dine at a restaurant. However, the shuttle service was always on the county government chopping block, because of the cost and lack of profitability along with ignorance of some of the county officials. “Why can’t we just buy them all a car,” one particularly dense councilmember said during a meeting.

There are many reasons why older people stop driving. In my mother’s case, she never learned to drive, which is not uncommon for older women. In my father’s case, his dementia made driving dangerous. Other common medical conditions like vision issues can also lead to a loss of driving ability.

One of the main issues when people no longer have access to reliable transportation is isolation. Older people may be cut off from opportunities to socialize on a regular basis. Their ability to access healthy food may be limited. And those with a lack of transportation options may delay doctor’s appointments.

The Uber senior accounts have the following features:

A simplified app interface.
Family members can track trips and call drivers, as well as ride safety features.
The ability to add Medicare Advantage cards to pay for eligible medical trips.

There are other community-based programs that offer similar transportation services, but Uber’s service area has a much wider reach, meaning those who are not served by those smaller companies may be able to take advantage of this new feature.

Image created by Google Gemini.

Uber Caregiver offers tech solutions for common tasks

There have been a lot of big announcements from technology companies recently, but one in particular caught my eye this past week: Uber announcing an initiative called Uber Caregiver. What does a ride hail service have to offer caregivers?

Uber has been expanding into other services for awhile. Uber Eats has become a popular restaurant delivery service. That service has expanded to offer groceries as well. Uber Health seeks to bring together these services to serve a specific population that could benefit greatly from them: caregivers and care recipients.

Uber Caregiver will allow a designated caregiver to request rides and order groceries for the care recipient. The caregiver will be able to monitor progress of rides and shopping orders on their own device. This would be beneficial for remote caregivers or those who cannot check in on their loved ones daily. Care recipients could maintain their independence with a reliable service that would transport them safely to doctor’s appointments.

One thing that isn’t clear is if Uber Caregiver drivers will receive any specialized training. That would seem to be critical, whether it’s how to help someone who’s mobility impaired in and out of a car or accommodating clients with cognitive decline. The Uber Caregiver service supports a 3-way chat system so a caregiver can stay in touch throughout the ride and receive a notification when their loved one arrives safely.

Those in rural areas will likely be out of luck, as Uber tends to focus on major cities and suburbs for its service areas. That’s unfortunate, as it’s those in rural areas without other transportation options that would benefit the most from the service. My parents were lucky to have access to a rural shuttle service run by the county, but the service was always being threatened by budget cuts.

Uber claims some healthcare plans will provide benefits towards the service, though it doesn’t provide a list of participating vendors. According to a Today report, those with Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and eligible employer health insurance plans may find that Uber Caregiver services are covered, though individuals should consult their specific plan providers to confirm.

Uber Caregiver will begin to roll out this summer, with shopping access coming at a later date.

Image courtesy of Uber.

For more caregiver resources, check out my dementia caregiver product recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Filed under Awareness & Activism

Tagged as caregivers, elder care, senior care, transit, transportation, uber, uber caregiver, uber health

July 13, 2017 · 9:44 pm

Envoy America expanding operations, offering safe rides for seniors

Embed from Getty Images

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you know one of my biggest concerns is transportation options for seniors. The ability to get safely to appointments and run errands can mean the difference between independent living and assisted living. If we as a society are embracing the concept of living at home until we die, we need to address these issues.

Uber, Lyft and other rideshare services have been a godsend for me, who otherwise uses public transportation to get around Atlanta. But using these services requires downloading a smartphone app, and not every older person has such a device or is interested in learning how to use one.

While Medicaid covers transportation expenses for medical appointments, Medicare does not, leaving middle class families like mine scrambling to make transportation arrangements. When I was my mother’s caregiver, it was one of my biggest challenges. My mother also had a difficult commute to visit my father in the memory care center. More safe, trustworthy transit options are needed.

Envoy America has expanded to the Houston area, after starting operations in Arizona in 2015. The door-to-door transit service, targeted to the older population, offers features like waiting with a person at a doctor’s appointment, and multiple stops. They’ll also push the cart and get hard-to-reach items at the grocery store. Drivers receive background checks and are specially-trained to work with older clients, including those with memory issues.

The rides aren’t necessarily cheap, but they do offer many more amenities. The service essentially combines a ride share company with a personal care aide. Envoy America charges by the hour instead of distance. In Houston, the average rate is $40 per hour, according to KHOU.

Envoy America has partnered with organizations like the American Cancer Society, the Mayo Clinic and religious organizations.

My Mom would have loved such a service!

The company is expanding gradually which makes sense, and it may be a long time, if ever, that rural populations are served. I hope the concept catches on, because I think there’s a huge, underserved market waiting for just such a service.