Bend, OR-based Sunshine Retirement Living has announced partnerships with Uber Health and North American Van Lines that the companies say could offer reassurance to residents during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
The Uber Health partnership is meant to streamline day-to-day transportation services at 18 independent living communities, and the North American Van Lines partnership will make discounted moving services available for all 34 of the company’s independent living, assisted living and memory care communities across 16 states.
Sunshine Vice President of Sales and Marketing Stephen Eatman said the organization chose to implement the Uber Health partnership at the independent living communities because residents there are still “very active.”
“While we provide our residents with complimentary scheduled transportation, the Uber partnership provides independent living residents even more flexibility to live life on their terms,” he told McKnight’s Senior Living.
Through Uber Health, dedicated Sunshine concierge members can request rides on behalf of residents up to 30 days in advance, using a HIPAA-secure dashboard, so residents can get to health-related outings and appointments on time. Residents don’t need a smartphone to use the program.
“Being able to get to and from medical appointments easily and efficiently is critical for enabling positive health outcomes for seniors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Uber Health Head of Strategic Initiatives Lauren Steingold Makler. “Uber Health is excited to partner with Sunshine Retirement Living to help ensure that access to transportation is never a barrier to care for residents in their independent living communities.”
In 2016, Sunshine partnered with Lyft, an Uber competitor, to test the ride-hailing service in nine of its communities.
“We are no longer partnering with Lyft, but our experience with ridesharing at our communities has shown us that it is something that residents want and benefit from,” Eatman said. “With Uber’s tenured experience in the ride-sharing industry, plus a dedicated department for senior health services, we anticipate they will fit well into our independent living model and greatly benefit our residents.”
The North American Van Lines partnership has the goal of enabling Sunshine to simplify the moving process for new residents with a “one-stop-shop service” and discounted rates. Residents moving into a Sunshine community can receive assistance with downsizing and preserving family heirlooms, packing and moving.
“For our North American Van Lines partnership, we offer the new services at all 34 communities because no matter what stage a senior is in, whether downsizing their home for the first time or moving from independent living to a higher care, moving can be a stressful experience and this partnership helps alleviate that burden,” Eatman said.
The pandemic is introducing new health and safety precautions regarding such activities, however. North American will survey the older adults’ personal belongings, either in person or virtually. Then, moving specialists will work with the senior living community to determine a layout for residents’ furniture and items based on their selected floor plan. When the residents arrive, all their belongings will be unpacked and staged in an effort for the unit to feel like home right away. Additionally, a representative will be able to help residents organize transportation or donation related to any remaining belongings.
“Assistance in moving is beneficial at any time, but we hope that with Sunshine’s rigorous safety protocols for virus prevention, coupled with our strong partnership and services with North American Van Lines, it is reassuring to seniors and their families,” Eatman said.
Sunshine Retirement Living CEO Luis Serrano said the partnership with North American recognizes that “packing, going through personal belongings and moving into a new place can often be a very emotional time for seniors and their families.” The program “not only significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to move seniors into their new home but also provides an introduction to the care and compassion that we are known for at our communities,” he added.
