Take Away The Keys, Non The Mobility
New features of rideshare services permit Mom as well as Dad continue their independence.
The average American adult woman volition outlive her might to crusade past times 10 years, as well as men, half dozen years, according to a recent study past times Consumer Reports. Oftentimes, it’s a identify unit of measurement fellow member who must broach the wrenching topic of ending a lifetime inward the driver’s seat. Many seniors study that losing their driving privileges is a bigger blow than having to become into an assisted living facility.
But is it similar a shot possible to ease to a greater extent than or less of the agony of taking away the keys amongst a technological choice retirees almost anywhere tin send away use?
Giving Seniors a Lyft
Ride-service companionship Lyft, which millennials widely use, has developed partnerships amongst CareLinx as well as Ascension to assist older adults brand it to wellness appointments. The collaboration amongst CareLinx adds a network of close 170,000 caregivers nationwide, spell Ascension boasts 2,500 aid facilities inward the nation’s largest nonprofit wellness aid system.
In addition, CareLinx ensures that a licensed caregiver volition locomote along for the ride. Whether it’s to the grocery store or a doctor’s office, in that place is assist getting inward as well as out of the vehicle, stowing a walker, or reading labels as well as instructions.
“It’s actually a door-through-door solution,” according to Dan Trigub, who oversees wellness aid partnerships at Lyft.
Caregivers, Family Can Request Ride
Many seniors are uncomfortable amongst smartphone technology, or unable to role the devices. Anyone tin send away access a web-based tool called Concierge on a telephone or PC to asking Lyft rides.
“In less than 10 seconds, a mortal tin send away schedule a ride on behalf of somebody,” says Trigub. “They learn into the pickup as well as drop-off locations as well as they tin send away schedule upward to a calendar week inward advance or inward existent time. Then they direct hold access to our fleet of vehicles inward that area.”
Jitterbug Answers the Call for Transportation
Many seniors who can’t role an iPhone or Android are already familiar amongst Jitterbug, a simplified smartphone developed amongst older folks inward mind. Thanks to a partnership amongst GreatCall, seniors inward to a greater extent than parts of the province direct hold one-button access to transportation. Press “0” to claw upward to GreatCall’s Personal Operator Service, as well as a auto volition become far inward minutes.
“We know, both from our customers as well as question past times AARP as well as the National Alliance for Caregiving, that transportation limitations seriously affect the independence as well as self-confidence of older adults,” says David Inns, CEO of GreatCall.
“While many of us are aware of as well as comfortable amongst ride-sharing apps, the engineering scientific discipline requirements—a smart telephone as well as an app—make it hard for many older adults,” adds Inns. “By incorporating it equally portion of GreatCall’s Personal Operator Services—having requests handled 24/7 past times a fellow member of our U.S.—based client service team— nosotros brand it slowly equally good equally affordable as well as reliable.”
Uber Connects amongst Senior Market
Ride-share service Uber is also exploring ways to connect amongst older adults. Uber partnered amongst AARP at senior centers inward Florida to instruct members how to role their app. Uber also partnered amongst California-based 24HrHomeCare to create a service dubbed RideWith24 inward reply to long hold back times at expanse hospitals for a ride home.
Seniors Who No Longer DriveStatistics exhibit that for seniors who no longer drive, character of life decreases. Health aid suffers equally fifteen per centum brand fewer trips to the doctor, as well as 59 per centum cut back outings to store or become to a restaurant. Perhaps the greatest hitting to character of life, however, is the 55 per centum who direct hold fewer trips to view friends as well as family. Source: www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/lyft-uber-want-to-give-old-folks-ride-180961688/ |
Recently, nonprofit wellness aid organization MedStar Health, based inward Washington, D.C., reached out to Uber.
“They saw through their ain question that the toll of missed appointments is ridiculously high,” explains Lindsay Elin, Uber’s Head of Community Engagement. “They were looking to crusade downwards their ain costs, as well as transportation was a large hurdle.”
Now, MedStar patients tin send away inquire for ride service when they brand appointments, as well as the staff at MedStar manages the rides. They tin send away rail trips to run into when patients arrive.
Uber for All
It’s similar a shot possible, through a programme called UberFamily, to create multi-person profiles on the Uber app, as well as and then schedule rides on behalf of identify unit of measurement members. UberFamily tin send away fifty-fifty continue seniors mobile who alive inward a unlike province than other identify unit of measurement members. For example, a immature adult woman living inward Phoenix tin send away schedule a ride side past times side calendar week for her manlike mortal raise inward Boston.
It’s ever a tough telephone yell upward to tell a raise their driving days are over, merely replacing the auto amongst a ride-share service through a smartphone tin send away continue seniors rolling.
Sources
“Lyft as well as Uber Want To Give Old Folks a Ride,” Smithsonian Magazine.
“New Solutions to Keep Seniors Moving,” Lyft Blog.
“Taking Away an Older Driver’s Keys,” Next Avenue.
“Taking The Car Keys Away From Older Drivers,” NPR.
“Seniors: Loneliness as well as Social Isolation,” 2016 Community Development Halton.
“GreatCall as well as Lyft Solve Transportation Issues for Seniors Using Personal Operators,” GreatCall.
“What is UberFAMILY?” uberkit.
“Distribution of Licensed Drivers - 2015 - By Sex as well as Percentage inward each Age Group as well as Relation to Population,” U.S. of A. Department of Transportation.
“How Seniors Are Driving Safer, Driving Longer,” Consumer Reports.
Blog posting provided past times
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