In 2017, the Chicago Tribune featured GoGoGrandparent in its supplement, “Getting a lift: Ride services help to get you where you want to go,” highlighting the growing need for accessible transportation options for older adults who no longer drive or prefer not to use smartphones.
At the time, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft were becoming popular alternatives to taxis, but many seniors couldn’t access them due to technology barriers. The Tribune spotlighted GoGoGrandparent as a simple, phone-based solution that bridged this gap — a service that allowed older adults to call in and request a ride without needing an app or smartphone.
How GoGo Helped Seniors Access Rides in 2017
The article explained how GoGoGrandparent offered personalized support through what the team affectionately called “professional grandchildren” — operators who reviewed each client’s profile and communicated special needs to drivers when possible.
“Our operators are called ‘professional grandchildren.’ They have each client’s profile, so we can let the driver know they have a special senior client, or that they need to be picked up at a certain door, or they have a walker,” GoGo Co-Founder Justin Boogaard told the Tribune.
Back then, this level of personalized care set GoGo apart and showed early signs of what the company would later become.
Read the original Chicago Tribune feature here:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/02/17/getting-a-lift-ride-services-help-to-get-you-where-you-want-to-go/
From Rides to Full Independent-Living Support (Where GoGo Is Today)
Since that 2017 spotlight, GoGoGrandparent has expanded far beyond rides. While we still help older adults access trusted drivers from Uber and Lyft using a simple phone call, we now offer an entire suite of services designed to support senior independence at home and in the community.
Today GoGoGrandparent offers:
- GoGo Rides – safe, monitored rides using Uber & Lyft drivers
- GoGo Groceries – personalized grocery delivery through Instacart
- GoGoGourmet – takeout delivery using partners like DoorDash
- GoGo Pharmacy – prescription pickup and delivery
- GoGo Home – vetted home professionals for chores and maintenance
- GoGo Care – tools that support caregivers in overseeing loved ones’ needs
- Grow With GoGo – Free Fitness Classes
YouTube Channel
Chair Yoga Playlist
Functional Fitness Playlist
While our mission remains the same — helping older adults maintain independence — today’s version of GoGoGrandparent looks very different than it did in 2017. We’ve grown into a nationwide membership service that supports seniors with mobility, comfort, safety, and wellness.
A Look Back — And a Look Forward
The 2017 Chicago Tribune feature captured GoGoGrandparent at an early moment, when our primary focus was helping seniors safely use ride-hailing without a smartphone.
Now, in 2025, we’ve expanded into a comprehensive system that empowers seniors to live independently longer, stay active in their communities, and remain connected to the people and routines they love.
To explore everything GoGo offers today, or to help a loved one get started, visit:
GoGoGrandparent Registration Page
