Local Seniors Use Uber to Maintain Independence

SARASOTA, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2016) Millennials aren’t the only ones using Uber. Residents of a local retirement community are now finding the rideshare app to be a helpful tool for maintaining their independence.

Earlier this month, The Fountains at Lake Pointe Woods – a retirement community in Sarasota offering independent and assisted living – hosted an Uber class to teach residents how to use the app. Twenty-five tech-savvy residents eager and willing to learn about Uber attended.

“I was impressed to see so many residents using smartphones and embracing the newer technology,” said Brad Wilson, Human Resource Assistant at The Fountains at Lake Pointe Woods, who taught the class. “The class lasted twice as long as expected because the residents were so thrilled to be learning this new skill and had so many questions.”

For seniors who aren’t as tech-savvy, Uber recently launched programs in California, Florida, Arizona and Texas that allow users to book a ride through a phone operator rather than the smartphone app. Uber can be an affordable option for seniors to regain or maintain their independence, especially for those temporarily unable to drive due to surgery or medical procedures, as well as those who feel less comfortable behind the wheel.

“The ability to have instantaneous access to transportation is incredible,” said Jim MacCullum, 76, resident at The Fountains at Lake Pointe Woods. “I think anyone who has a smartphone will find Uber easy to use.”

Prior to the class, MacCullum would call a cab when he needed a ride or wanted to run errands around town.

“Sometimes it would take a cab 45 minutes to an hour to pick me up, and that doesn’t always work for me,” said McCallum. “With Uber, there is always a driver within my vicinity. I’ve used it two or three times since the class and found that it saves a lot of time trying to find a ride.”

The Uber class is just one of the many educational programs offered at The Fountains at Lake Pointe Woods. Through Watermark University, residents can attend and even teach classes that showcase their passions and engage their minds.

About Watermark Retirement Communities, Inc.
In 2015, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) ranked Tucson-based Watermark Retirement Communities as the thirteenth largest senior housing operator in the U.S. Watermark’s commitment to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive dates back to nearly 30 years to when it opened its first retirement community in 1987. A privately held company with a reputation of service, success, growth, integrity and financial stability, Watermark Retirement Communities manages 37 retirement communities coast to coast.