Getting to appointments is one of the quiet logistics of caregiving. When a parent stops driving, someone has to work out how they'll get to the doctor, the pharmacy, the hairdresser or a friend's place. Often that someone is an adult child juggling work and family, sometimes from another city.
Uber's caregiver feature is designed for exactly this. It lets a family member book and track rides on behalf of someone they care for. This guide explains how it works, how health plan benefits fit in, and what to think about if the person you care for is living with memory loss or dementia.
What Is Uber Caregiver?
Uber Caregiver is a feature from Uber Health. According to Uber Health, it lets caregivers arrange transportation, track trip progress and communicate with a loved one's driver, all in one place. It can also be used to arrange delivery of groceries and over-the-counter items.
Uber announced the feature in May 2024, framed around a problem many families recognise: coordinating rides and deliveries for someone else, and making better use of the health plan benefits that cover them. Uber has since introduced the feature in New Zealand as well.
How It Works
Setup takes a few minutes. Based on Uber Health's instructions:
Both people need an Uber account. The caregiver and the person receiving care each create one.
The care recipient adds a payment method. They add a card to their own Uber wallet.
They delegate it to the caregiver. The care recipient chooses which payment method the caregiver can use.
The caregiver books rides. Rides can be requested straight away or scheduled for later.
Once it's set up, the caregiver and the person riding can both follow the trip, and there's a group chat with the driver. That shared chat is useful if the driver can't find the pickup point, or if your parent needs reassurance about where they're going.
If your loved one doesn't use a smartphone, the caregiver can still book on their behalf. AARP also notes that Uber added an option in 2023 to call for a ride without using the app.
Using Health Plan Benefits in the US
In the US, some health plans include rides or grocery allowances as supplemental benefits. Where the plan supports it, Uber Caregiver lets caregivers see and use these benefits on a loved one's behalf.
As Uber Health explained to MobiHealthNews, a health plan needs to include Uber in its network for supplemental benefits before caregivers can use them this way. Uber said it planned to partner with Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial plans, and that care recipients can check within the app whether funding is available to them.
If you're not sure, call the health plan and ask whether ride or grocery benefits can be used through Uber.
Why This Matters for Caregivers
Family caregiving is now a large part of how older people get support. AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving's 2025 report found that 63 million Americans, nearly one in four adults, provided ongoing care in the past year. That's 20 million more than in 2015. AARP also says caregivers are paying roughly $7,200 a year out of pocket, on average, in caregiving costs.
Transport is a big part of that load. Every appointment can mean a day off work, a long drive or a string of phone calls. Tools that let family arrange and follow a ride from wherever they are take some of that pressure off.
When Your Loved One Has Memory Loss or Dementia
Rideshare can help someone with early memory problems keep getting out on their own. But it needs more thought than it would for someone without cognitive changes.
Is it safe for them to travel alone? In the early stages, many people can manage a straightforward ride to a familiar place. As things progress, getting into the right car, knowing where they're going and finding their way into a building can all become harder. Be honest about where your loved one is now.
Keep trips simple and familiar. Regular rides to the same places, like the GP or a friend's house, are easier than one-off trips somewhere new.
Make pickup and drop-off clear. Choose a door that's easy to find and add notes for the driver. Ask someone at the destination to meet them if you can.
Use the tracking and the chat. Following the ride in real time, and being in the chat with the driver, means you'll know quickly if something isn't going to plan.
Prepare your loved one. A quick call before the ride, with the driver's name and car, helps avoid confusion at the door.
Know when it stops being right. If your parent is getting lost at destinations or feels anxious travelling alone, it may be time for someone to go with them, or to look at community transport or accompanied services.
If your parent has recently stopped driving, our guide to driving and cognitive decline covers how to have that conversation.
Elli Cares complements tools like Uber Caregiver by supporting the rest of the day around a trip. Appointment reminders, including video reminders recorded by family, help your loved one get ready on time, and Safe Zones let the care circle know if they leave an area you've agreed on. Family can see activity and messages in one place. See how Elli supports seniors and families.
Other Transport Options Worth Knowing
Uber Caregiver is one option among several. Depending on where you live, others might include:
community transport or volunteer driver programmes
transport provided through a health plan or local health service
taxi subsidy schemes for people who can no longer drive
rides from friends, neighbours or faith communities
Our guide to supporting a parent with dementia from afar covers other ways families coordinate care across a distance, and it's OK to ask for help has tips on sharing the load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I book an Uber for my mum or dad?
Yes. With Uber Caregiver, the person you care for adds a payment method and delegates it to you, and you can then book, schedule and track rides for them. You'll both need Uber accounts.
Can I use Medicare Advantage benefits for Uber rides?
Only if the plan includes Uber in its network for supplemental benefits. Care recipients can check eligibility in the Uber app, or you can call the health plan to ask.
Does my parent need a smartphone?
They need an Uber account, but a caregiver can book rides on their behalf. Uber also offers a way to request a ride by phone without the app.
Making the Logistics Lighter
Transport is one of the many small jobs that make caregiving tiring. Tools like Uber Caregiver won't solve everything, but they can turn a day off work into a few taps on a phone. Pair them with clear routines, a plan for when things go wrong, and honest check-ins about what your loved one can still manage safely.
