Uber launches feature geared toward 'older adults'; ride experience being piloted in Austin

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Popular rideshare service Uber announced Monday it’s launching a “simplified ride experience designed for older adults.”

According to an early Monday press release from the company, Uber’s “senior accounts” feature is going through a pilot phase in Austin before being rolled out to other cities. The feature is an option in the app that was “designed to make getting around easier, more intuitive, and more accessible for older adults,” per the release.

Senior accounts feature larger text, fewer steps, and optional support from loved ones, the release said.

Uber said a senior account includes the following key features:

• Simplified booking: Older adults can request rides using a simplified version of the app with larger text and icons, less buttons, and fewer screens. 
• Saved places: Frequently visited locations—like home, the doctor, or a favorite store—can be saved by either the older adult or their loved one for faster ride requests.
• Flexible payment options: Senior account holders can use a family organizer’s card, their own, or eligible Medicare Flex cards for medical trips. 
• Live trip tracking: To help keep loved ones in the know, the family organizer can follow along in the app with real-time updates and live trip tracking whenever their parent or grandparent requests a ride. 
• Help when needed: Family organizers and caregivers can step in when needed and book rides on their phone for the senior account holder, edit saved places, set a shared payment method, or call drivers on the rider’s behalf at any time during the trip.

The rideshare company rolled out similar specialized services back in 2023 when it launched teen accounts, which was also first deployed in Austin.

How Uber senior accounts work

Senior accounts are available in select cities through Uber’s family profiles as of Monday. The option to add a senior account to a family profile is currently only available in Austin, but the older adult can live anywhere, according to a release from Uber.

To set up a senior account, an Uber app user will need to go to their account settings, then “Family” to create a family profile, select “invite family” and choose “Senior,” then choose contact and select the senior’s name in the contact list. The invited senior will receive a text message invite, then they can begin requesting rides independently or get help from their loved one.

According to Uber, the feature was developed in partnership with aging advocates, accessibility experts, and input from older adults. The rideshare company said it created the feature because transportation is “one of the biggest barriers to independence as people age.”

“We listened closely to feedback from older riders and their families, and one thing was clear: technology should be helpful, not overwhelming,” said Briana Gilmore, Head of Public Policy, Accessibility, and Underserved Communities at Uber. “With senior accounts, we’ve reimagined the app experience from the ground up to make it easier for older adults to stay mobile, independent, and connected – reflecting Uber’s commitment to building inclusive products that meet the needs of every rider, no matter their age or tech comfort level.”

Uber said it plans to expand senior accounts to additional cities “in the near future.”

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