Uber for Seniors: Best Rideshare for Seniors

If your senior loved one has decided to continue driving, you've probably thought about the challenges they might face. Driving can feel like a badge of independent living for an older adult. A car allows them to perform daily tasks and stay connected with their community and loved ones. 

However, senior driving can be dangerous, for the driver and everyone else on the road. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, as of January 2025, 25 older adults are killed in car crashes every day. Due to slower reflexes, stiffer muscles, and vision and hearing problems, the risk of injury or death in a car crash increases significantly as we age.

Rideshares like Uber for seniors can help reduce some of these risks. Over the last decade, ridesharing has become much more common across the population —  according to the National Library of Medicine, as of 2020, there were nearly 1,000 rideshare services available for older adults in the United States. 

We've created this guide to help you and your senior loved one find alternative options to driving. Read on to learn more about the challenges senior drivers face and the rideshares available to them.

According to the National Institute on Aging, the aging process can negatively impact older adults' driving skills. Possible difficulties include hearing loss, vision impairment, slower reflexes, arthritis, and certain medications. 

Below are some of the biggest transportation-related challenges for older adults:

• Limited Mobility: Common health conditions like arthritis can make it harder for older adults to brake safely or turn their heads to check their blind spots. Pain and stiffness can also lead to slower reflexes on the road. 
• Safety Concerns: Over 740 older adults are injured in car crashes every day, and drivers over 70 are more likely to die in crashes than younger drivers. 
• Lack of Public Transit: Seniors who live in a place without extensive public transit may find it hard to get around without driving. 
• High Burden on Family Caregivers: A 2023 AARP report found that family caregivers perform approximately 36 billion hours of unpaid care per year, including driving to doctor's appointments and the pharmacy. 

Rideshares are a modern-day alternative to taxis. Through an app, they connect passengers to drivers, who use their personal vehicles to offer transportation. The biggest names in ridesharing are Uber and Lyft. There are additional services available, some of which directly market to older adults. Some projections state that ride-hailing will grow into a $341 billion industry by 2029. 

Most of the U.S. is already familiar with the concept of ride-sharing, including many seniors. As of 2019, approximately one in four adults over 50 had used a rideshare. Moreover, older adults were among the earliest adopters of rideshare apps in 2015. 

Rideshares aren't just a Silicon Valley fad or a built-in designated driver for partiers — they can be useful for older adults. Rideshares can lower the risk of crashes, offer convenience, and offer seniors autonomy while depending less on caregivers. 

• Lower Risk of Crashes: All Uber drivers must pass annual background and driving checks, ensuring that they all have a record of safety. 
• Convenience: Rideshares are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, and most rideshare apps aim for ease of use. 
• Greater Independence and Less Reliance on Caregivers: Caregivers provide approximately 36 billion hours of unpaid care per year. In addition to reducing stress on caregivers, older adults can feel more independent by setting up their own transportation through rideshares. 

Founded in 2009, Uber is likely the rideshare company with the most name recognition in the world. It also has the biggest market share. As of January 2025, Uber had a market capitalization of more than $144 billion. 

To use Uber, you just download an app on your smartphone. You enter your destination, see your rate, choose a vehicle type (UberX, Uber Black, etc.), and then request a ride. A nearby driver will accept your request, after which you'll receive their estimated time of arrival. When you arrive at your destination, you rate your driver and leave a tip. 

Uber can make it easy for older adults to attend appointments and go about daily business without driving or relying on a caregiver. 

According to Bloomberg Second Measure, as of 2024, Uber held 76% of the rideshare market, while Lyft held the remaining 24%. Founded in 2012, Lyft markets itself as a more friendly version of Uber — the company has used the slogan "your friend with a car," and based on anecdotal (and personal) experience, Lyft drivers can be more likely to have a conversation with you than Uber drivers. 

The Lyft app is pretty similar to the Uber app. You enter your destination, see your rate, request a ride, see your estimated time of arrival, and rate your driver and leave a tip once you arrive at your destination. 

Like Uber, Lyft for seniors can remove some transportation barriers. Drivers are often available in urban and suburban areas, available to take you to appointments. 

 So which is better for seniors, Uber or Lyft?

Both Uber and Lyft are solid rideshare options for older adults; however, with senior-specific partnerships, Lyft likely edges out Uber as the best option for seniors. Lyft partners with companies like Common Courtesy to show older adults how to use Lyft to get to pharmacies, grocery stores, and doctor's appointments. 

Lyft drivers are also generally more likely to provide social interaction than Uber drivers, although this isn't always the case. 

It may also depend on which service is more available in your area. 

While Uber and Lyft are the biggest names in ride-hailing, there are other senior-specific options available regionally. If you live in a place where these companies operate, they could be the best option for you. 

GoGoGrandparent helps older adults use Uber and Lyft without having to figure out how to use a smartphone. Seniors call a number, then press "one" to request an Uber or Lyft to their home, "two" to call an Uber or Lyft to the last place they were dropped off, or "eight" to request groceries from Instacart or Walmart. 

GoGoGrandparent is currently available in certain metropolitan areas, including San Francisco, Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles. It's a good option for older adults who don't have a smartphone or don't want to learn to work the Lyft or Uber apps.

Arrive is a smaller rideshare company that operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The company's main selling point is eliminating the need for a smartphone or an app. Unlike GoGoGrandparent, users do not call a number and press a button — instead, they call a number and speak to a concierge, who calls an Uber or Lyft to their location. 

Arrive operates wherever Lyft and Uber operates. The company prides itself on personalized service, conducting initial interviews with older adults to determine their needs and most common destinations. As such, Arrive is a good option for those seeking this personal touch.

SilverRide is a wraparound rideshare service for older adults with mobility challenges or other disabilities. The company provides credentialed drivers who give personalized services to each client. SilverRide partners with health care and senior organizations to take passengers from door to door, and takes charge of getting older adults to all their appointments on time. 

SilverRide is a good option for a senior looking for a comprehensive rideshare service, or older adults who have regular appointments at one of SilverRide's health care partners.

For some older adults, getting into a car with a stranger might seem bizarre. The technology-forward nature of rideshare apps can also be confusing, especially for seniors who prefer not to use smartphones. 

Other common safety issues for seniors using rideshares include:

• getting in and out of the vehicle
• communicating clearly with the driver through vision or hearing issues
• vulnerability to scams (the driver choosing circuitous routes, or app price gouging 

Fortunately, there are remedies for most of these issues. Both Uber and Lyft regularly screen and background check their drivers, ensuring that they are safe drivers. If you are particularly concerned about safety, services like GoGoGrandparent and Arrive can provide an extra level of protection and ease of use, removing some technological barriers by eliminating the need for a smartphone. 

Seniors who use rideshares can also create a joint Uber or Lyft account with a loved one, who can monitor their progress on the route. Older adults should also double-check driver details when their rideshare arrives. 

Rideshares can be a great transportation option for older adults, especially for those in assisted living, memory care, or nursing home facilities. While it can be jarring to get into a car with a stranger, rideshares can help seniors live more independently, go about their daily business, and lessen the burden on caregivers. 

Lyft is likely the best big-name rideshare option for older adults, given its senior-centric initiatives; however, Uber and specialized options like GoGoGrandparent and Arrive can also provide a lot of value to seniors.

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