GreatCall is a connected health company with products and services for older adults. Giving up driving is one of the top fears of older adults, significantly impacting their independence and self-esteem. This August, the company started a program that addresses one of the top issues in aging: transportation. The GreatCall Rides program provides GreatCall customers with easy access to Lyft services – without an app – through GreatCall’s Personal Operator Services.
Today’s younger baby boomers are familiar with ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, and have more than likely used them already if they live in a larger city. By partnering with companies that boomers are familiar with now, GreatCall can offer services older adults trust and are familiar with as they age. It removes just one more barrier to mobility.
The announcement received positive responses from the media and industry experts on how GreatCall and Lyft are helping solve this growing issue – over the next 20 years, the number of Americans aged 65 or over (currently 36 million licensed drivers) is expected to reach 20 percent of the population. The new program was covered in several publications, including the LA Times, The Huffington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and more – hitting the markets where the program is first being piloted.