By As we age, maintaining independence can become more difficult—especially for older adults without access to a car or those managing health conditions. While rideshare apps can be a helpful solution, they’re not always senior-friendly. That’s why rideshare company Lyft has launched Lyft Silver, a new version of its app designed with older riders in mind. Here’s what it includes—and how to start using it today.
What is Lyft Silver?
Lyft Silver (a separate app available on both iPhone and Android) is a version of the Lyft ridesharing service that was designed specifically for older adults. It makes both the app and the ride itself more accommodating for seniors who need transportation, whether that be for medical appointments, grocery shopping or visiting friends.
“Developing Lyft Silver was truly a labor of care and intention,” Audrey Liu, Lyft’s EVP of rider experience, shared with FastCompany.com. “We started by listening—really listening—to the experiences and needs of older adults. We spoke with riders, caregivers and organizations that serve this community to understand the specific challenges they face with transportation. Things like navigating complex apps, feeling unsure about who their driver will be or needing a little extra time and assistance.”
The launch of Lyft Silver means that aging customers and their families can feel more comfortable when utilizing the service.
What are the features of Lyft Silver?
Those who use Lyft Silver can expect to find the following features:
- A simpler app interface with a font 1.4 times bigger than the standard app
- The ability to contact a live support team over the phone from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST.
- Cars that are easy to get in and out of for the ride, ensuring comfort
- Ride details (like route and drop-off location) shared with trusted contacts, such as family and caregivers.
The company is also collaborating with organizations in some communities to offer discounted rides to older customers. For example, AltaMed in Los Angeles will be working with Lyft Silver to offer rides to medical appointments for members of its Viva Gold tier. These are patients aged 62 and older who manage multiple chronic conditions, so provided transportation is quite helpful.
Lyft will also be collaborating with its other partners (Urban League, NOAH, SAGE and Self Help for the Elderly) to make rides more affordable for older adults.
How to use Lyft Silver
The Lyft Silver experience is currently available for no extra charge on top of what you’d be paying for rides via the regular app. Lyft fares are based on ride route, ride type, availability and demand.
The only caveat? Early access to the feature is only available nationwide to the first 25,000 riders to sign up.
To activate Lyft Silver, users should first download the regular Lyft app if they don’t already have it on their device. Next, choose “You” in the bottom right of the app to open the main menu. Select “Lyft Silver” to enable the feature, which will switch the app to the new interface. (Note: You can turn it off at any time).
Current Lyft users can also invite others to the service via the app. Once they select “Lyft silver” in the “You” tab, the recipients will receive a link via text message to turn on the feature.
What family and caregivers should know about Lyft
One of the appealing features of Lyft Silver is the ability for family and caregivers to stay informed of where their loved ones’ are traveling. This can be done by connecting the Lyft Silver account to a family account. This is used to track spending, see ride info and pay for family members’ rides. (Note: Lyft Cash is another way to make sure older riders have funds when needed.)
Created before Lyft Silver is Lyft Concierge, which allows caregivers and healthcare providers to schedule rides for those who need them. This is great for adults who don’t have the app or access to a smartphone.
Transportation services like Lyft Silver
If Lyft isn’t readily available in your area or you’d like to explore other options, there are other similar services that can help you or an older family member get around their community. Here are some alternatives:
- Uber senior account: This includes a streamlined app, the ability to use health benefits cards to pay for some medical expenses and the ability for family organizers to handle the booking and paying of rides
- GoGoGrandparent: This app’s available in all 50 states and offers screened services from other companies like Uber, DoorDash and Instacart—and you don’t need a smartphone. Unlike pay-per-ride services, this is a monthly cost.
- Arrive: As a member of this service for seniors, you can call their phone line and the concierge will dispatch a car for you. It currently operates in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle and Spokane.
