GoGoGrandparent co-founder Justin Boogaard was inspired to create a ride-share service for individuals aged 60-plus after witnessing his grandmother struggle to access transportation and meal deliveries.
As individuals age, health concerns and declining physical and cognitive mobility can make independence and social connections more difficult. A new program, however, is working to help older adults stay mobile and engaged.
Through a recent partnership between GoGoGrandparent — a ride-hailing service designed for older adults — and the Montana Area IV Agency on Aging, Gallatin County residents aged 60 and older can access free transportation and delivery services.
The program provides up to eight one-way rides of up to 60 miles each month, four free grocery deliveries and four free prescription drug deliveries.
GoGoGrandparent was co-founded in 2016 after Justin Boogaard saw his grandmother struggle to access rides and meal deliveries due to her discomfort with using technology and navigating apps such as Uber or DoorDash.
Today, the service operates nationwide and internationally, offering older adults a safe, reliable and fast way to access transportation and deliveries, according to Mike Ball, the partnership manager for GoGoGrandparent.
“This was more a matter of addressing a need for transportation and social isolation for seniors in Montana,” he said.
According to the National Institute on Aging, social isolation and loneliness have been linked to higher risks of various physical and mental health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity.
Seniors who experience the loss of a spouse or partner, separation from family and friends, retirement, reduced mobility or lack of transportation are particularly vulnerable.
Additionally, age-related physical changes and health conditions can impact a person’s ability and willingness to drive, further limiting their independence and making it harder to stay socially connected.
To use the service, older adults simply call the Montana number and follow the menu options. Once a driver accepts the request, the service provides details about the arriving vehicle. Users receive a phone call when the driver is nearby.
According to Ball, the service partners with thoroughly vetted Uber and Lyft drivers with a proven track record of delivering high-quality service for riders with visual, ambulatory, cognitive or dexterity impairments.
“Another thing we do outside of Uber and Lyft is we keep a number of attributes on file,” he said. “If someone tells us, for example they have a foldable walker or an oxygen tank, we’ll talk to the Uber driver in real time and say, are you okay putting this walker in your trunk or perhaps giving an elbow assist to the rider into the vehicle? By doing these kinds of checks and balances and tracking these attributes, we’re able to realize an over 99% reliability and fulfillment rate.”
In addition to Gallatin, GoGoGrandparent operates in Yellowstone, Fergus, Butte-Silver Bow, Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark counties.
While Ball said the service has expanded successfully across the state, the rollout hasn’t been without its challenges.
“We kind of ramped up rather quickly. I think one challenge is marketing; it’s just getting it out in the hands of people and informing people that it’s happening,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ball is optimistic about the service’s continued growth, but its statewide expansion will ultimately depend on participation from other Area Agencies on Aging.
For more information or to schedule a free ride, call 1-855-755-2026 or register online at gogograndparent.com/MontanaA4.
