What impact are mobile apps such as Uber and Lyft having, or potentially could have, on the seniors housing industry?
Personalized service is crucial for success
By Donny Schwartz
Vice President
Healthcare Division
Reliance Global Holdings
Transportation limitations can have a negative effect on the independence of seniors.
Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing platforms should form an alliance with seniors housing operators to alleviate the burden of family caregivers who are solely providing transportation themselves.
The idea would be for Uber and Lyft to provide a tailor-made service for seniors. The drivers would be trained to accommodate wheelchairs and other essentials. Upon discharge from a long-term care facility, drivers would ensure the residents’ safety by walking with them to the doors of their home.
Use in seniors housing
is limited
By Rita Stevens
Vice President Operations
Vantage Point Retirement Living
In time, tech-savvy seniors may utilize these services to stay independent within their own homes. Therefore, it may delay their choosing to enter a senior community.
Some in the industry may use ride sharing to either supplement or completely replace their personal transportation services within their communities.
Considering safety and security issues with the frailty of residents should remain paramount. I don’t believe, unless there is a subdivision within Uber or Lyft for specialty training, they will have a permanent effect on the senior living industry.
Self-driving cars are the future of transportation
By Mike Milhaupt
Vice President of Senior Development
The Wolff Company
Self-driving cars will have a huge impact on the seniors housing market and life in general. As we start to open our first few properties next month, it will be interesting to see the impact over the coming years.
We are budgeting a full-time driver eight hours a day, seven days a week in most of our Revel-branded independent living communities. That said, we really believe that some of that budget will be spent on individual transportation in some manner.
Mobile tech changing how we treat seniors
By Patrick Hart
Vice President, Senior Living Solutions
MatrixCare
Lyft and Uber have changed the way people think about getting a ride. Innovative apps are now having an impact on the seniors housing industry as well.
Many still view seniors housing as a nursing home or a place to die. Apps provide an easier way to deliver and document services for seniors, which allows caregivers more face time with their residents. This, in turn, will lead to quality improvements in resident care.
Advancing mobile technology will allow for help with ADLs, ordering food, communicating with family/friends, documenting vitals, setting doctor appointments and sharing personal information.
Transportation is a constant headache
By Dan Baker
Vice President, Senior Housing
Avison Young
The impact these apps are having is small today, but growing rapidly. They will be ubiquitous in seniors housing communities in just a few years.
Transportation of residents, whether for recreation or medical purposes, has to be staffed, planned, insured, expensed and maintained. It is a constant headache for operators.
Utilizing a cost-effective, safe and reliable transportation provider without having to incur the burden of owning the vehicle or employing the driver could be very enticing to operators and the families of residents, especially in more rural markets.