The sharing economy is booming and young people are loving it. Whether they are enjoying a cozy rental home in place of a hotel room or saving money by purchasing pre-loved clothing, the millennial generation has taken full advantage of the amazing benefits the sharing economy has to offer. After all, in this day and age, when communication is so quick and easy thanks to electronic devices, it’s hard to see a reason not to hop on board the peer-to-peer train.
That said, many people forget to consider the enormous improvements that could be made to the lives of senior citizens via the marvelous world of the sharing economy. Your grandpa or grandma could be living a more fulfilling life with this amazing new peer-to-peer method of buying and selling, yet very few people have made an effort to include them.
Think for a moment about how the elderly people in your life might put the many services the sharing economy has to offer to use. Can’t think of any? Here are a few we’ve found:
#1: Transportation
Getting around becomes more and more difficult the older a person becomes. Eventually, all elderly individuals must give up driving and switch to public transportation options. Unfortunately, for those who must use a walker or wheelchair—and even for those who simply have trouble walking or standing for long periods—taking the bus or train is nearly impossible.
Imagine though, if these older adults were to begin using Uber or Lyft instead of fast-paced public transportation systems. This would allow these frail individuals to move at their own pace without the hustle and bustle typically found on a bus or train.
#2: Food Delivery
For those seniors who prefer not to leave the house at all, food delivery services can come in quite handy. Companies such as Shipt and Instacart will provide grocery delivery service for a nominal fee. This is perfect for elderly people, as it means they do not have to find transportation, walk the aisles of the store, or carry heavy bags back home. They simply choose what they’d like to have delivered, pay for it, wait for a couple hours, and enjoy their purchases.
Equally as helpful are restaurant delivery services such as Uber Eats. This peer-to-peer delivery service makes ordering restaurant fare quick and easy for the homebound individual. Best of all, the diner won’t be stuck eating the typical pizza or Chinese delivery, as Uber Eats delivers from a wide variety of places all over the country.
#3: Savings
Generally, senior citizens are living off of a retirement check and what little they can manage to collect from social security. This means money is almost always tight, and finding the funds to do fun things or make frivolous purchases isn’t always possible.
That said, the sharing economy can make what little fun money our elderly friends have stretch a lot further. For instance, clothing share sites such as Thread Up make it easy for the senior on a tight budget to find clothing they like at a price they can afford.
As another example, companies like SeatGeek make it possible to find tickets to events the senior might wish to attend. To make the outing even more affordable for those who drive, ParqEx can help them find inexpensive parking that is in a convenient location.
As you can see, the sharing economy has the potential to seriously improve the lives of the elderly people around us. So what are you waiting for? Call up great aunt Edna and your sweet old grandpa, and let them know about the amazing things they will find when they begin using the peer-to-peer marketplace.
Want to learn more about how ParqEx and the rest of the sharing economy will change the world? Please contact us today!
