Uber launches special account for seniors with a focus on safety and accessibility: How to activate it?
The ride-hailing app Uber officially unveiled a new feature aimed at making travel easier for seniors, providing them with greater autonomy, safety, and family support.
The tool, available in Colombia since July 23, allows children, grandchildren, or caregivers to create accounts for older adults within the "Family Profile" app, with access to a customized version of the platform.
Family members or caregivers can manage rides from their own account. Photo: iStock
The new feature allows older adults to use the Uber app with a simpler, more user-friendly interface. From the family member or caregiver's account, it's possible to create a linked account specifically configured for older adults. This account features larger text, more visible buttons, fewer steps to request a ride , and a simplified design that makes it easier to navigate the digital environment.
Seniors can request rides on their own or receive assistance from the family manager's app. Additionally, frequent destinations (such as health centers, supermarkets, or nursing homes) can be saved to streamline the ride request process.
Key features designed for older adults:- Simplified interface: Menus, buttons, and instructions are presented in a larger, more visually clear format. The number of screens and options is reduced, minimizing the possibility of errors when using the app.
- Real-time remote assistance: The family member or caregiver can intervene from their own account to request a ride, change the destination address, contact the driver (lessor), or manage shared payments.
- Trip tracking: All of the senior's journeys can be monitored live by the family manager, who receives notifications about the start, progress, and arrival of the trip.
- Payment flexibility: The account allows the use of credit or debit cards linked to the senior or family member administrator, who can cover the cost directly from their profile.
- Favorite Destinations: The app allows you to pre-configure recurring locations such as hospitals, clinics, relatives' homes, or stores, making it easy to select a destination without having to type in the address.
Seniors can request rides independently or with remote assistance. Photo: iStock
- The family member must log in to the Uber app and access the “Family Profile” section.
- From there, you can select the “Add a new member” option and invite the senior using a personalized link.
- If the senior doesn't have the Uber app installed, they'll receive an invitation to download it and set up their account with help from their family member.
- Once activated, you can use the app independently or with support.
According to Manuela Bedoya, Security Communications Manager for the Andean, Caribbean, and Central American regions, this initiative is the result of collaborative work and its objective was to ensure that the digital experience reflects the real-life conditions of this population.
“At Uber, we're always listening to our users' needs, which is why, with this new option, we've redesigned the experience from the ground up, so that older adults can get around more easily and safely, while maintaining their independence,” Bedoya said.
Uber is currently available in more than 10,000 cities in 70 countries and continues to adapt its technology to different user profiles.
More news in EL TIEMPO *This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from Uber, and included input from the journalist and an editor.
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