Image Source: Uber
In a major move towards making ride-hailing more accessible to more seniors, Uber Technologies, Inc. has rolled out its Senior Accounts and Simple Mode features nationwide in the United States with a target for rapid expansion worldwide. The campaign, launched on June 4, 2025, seeks to remove barriers to mobility for seniors by providing a less complex, more intuitive app experience centered around independence and simplicity. According to Uber, the launch forms part of a broader strategy to address the needs of an aging population, with projections that by 2030, one in six people worldwide will be 60 or older.
Key Details from the Announcement:
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Easier Interface: Simple Mode and Senior Accounts both feature larger text, fewer buttons, and a less cluttered layout to make it easier for older adults—those who are less tech-savvy either—to navigate the app and order rides.
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Family Integration: Uber's Senior Accounts are linked with its Family Profile so family members can assist with ride booking, manage payment options, and monitor trips in real-time. Family organizers can even communicate with drivers and reserve locations for the senior user.
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Independent Option: Simple Mode provides the same streamlined experience to seniors who prefer to manage their rides on their own without a Family Profile link. The mode can be enabled directly within the app's Account.
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Flexible Payment: Seniors can pay with a personal card, a family member's card, or, in the United States, a Medicare Flex card for eligible medical rides.
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Saved Destinations: Regular places (e.g., house or doctor's office) can be saved to arrive at them quickly with ride requests.
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Real-Time Updates: Family members are provided with real-time trip updates and notifications in the event of delays, providing reassurance to seniors and their families.
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Global Rollout: Following the United States rollout, the features are rolling out in several cities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, India (Simple Mode only), Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Portugal, France, and South Africa.
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Expert Advice: The features were developed while consulting aging activists, accessibility experts, and older adults themselves to make sure they meet real needs.
Uber's next move is not technology—it's freedom, dignity, and connection. According to Silvia Candamil Neira, VP, Global Initiative on Ageing and Longevity: "Solutions like Uber's senior accounts tear down that barrier by giving older adults an easy, convenient way to get where they want to go—without necessarily having to ask for a ride. It's about dignity, freedom, and remaining connected to the people and places they care about most.".
Source: Uber Technologies, Inc., AXIOS, CNet
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