As people age, there comes a point when walking a distance becomes difficult. Driving can also be impaired in the elderly. Eyesight, reflexes, and hand/eye coordination can lead to a disaster. With that in mind, Uber is opening ways for seniors to retain their individuality without being a hazard. They also allow additional family members to help out.
What Are They Doing?
First, Uber is a technology platform that connects drivers with riders. Although Oregon County, Missouri, is not known for these amenities, larger cities where many medical appointments take place do participate.
Uber is introducing senior accounts, which enable family members to help set up, track, and pay for rides, as well as “simple mode,” a senior-friendly version of the app designed for older adults who use it independently.
Family Help
To set up a senior account, existing Uber users can add a senior adult to their family profile in the app. The head of the family profile can book rides for a senior rider, handle payments, and set monthly spending limits. The family profile allows Uber users to track a connected family member in real-time, contact drivers, and add saved places for frequent stops. Riders using senior accounts can opt to pay with their own payment method, one registered by a family member, or a Medicare flex card. This frees up the senior from making additional pickup appointments and payments.
Senior Eyes Only
Uber’s new Simple Mode is designed for seniors who are not connected to a relative’s family profile. It features enhancements that increase the app’s text size, streamline its interface, and provide clear in-app instructions. The refreshed version of the app also features bigger icons, fewer buttons, and saved locations to make it easier for seniors to run errands and get out of the house with on-demand transportation.
Why?
Uber is implementing these changes in response to input from aging and accessibility advocates worldwide.
Other Times?
Uber previously introduced teen accounts that let users younger than 18 travel alone in connection with a parent’s account. Like senior accounts, teen accounts come with payment support and live trip-tracking to enhance safety.
So as an aging adult, it is good to know that resources are available for seniors to keep their mobility, without fear of injuring others.
