New companies are working toward finding a solution to the problem of the elderly needing transportation, when they no longer drive their own cars, according to Politico in "Uber, but for Grandma."
A nearby relative or friend may be regularly available and some cities, government agencies and charities offer dedicated buses or vans that can transport the elderly. However, those programs are expensive to maintain and not always available when an elderly person needs to get to an appointment.
This has left many people isolated with little choice but to call a taxi, which are not available everywhere and can be expensive.
However, Uber and Lyft are both looking at ridesharing services for ways they can step in to meet seniors' transportation needs.
While similar to taxis, these services are usually less expensive and are more readily available.
The companies will need to overcome several obstacles to be a reliable solution to the problem. The availability of vehicles that can accommodate wheelchairs is currently lacking. Many elderly people do not have the smartphones needed to use the services or are not comfortable hailing a ride using an app.
Getting seniors transportation is an important health and financial issue for the elderly.
Reference: Politico (Sep. 27, 2017) "Uber, but for Grandma."