Unfortunately, many seniors can’t get out of the house as easily as they used to, which means they give up a lot of their favorite restaurants. And grocery shopping is even more of an undertaking — one that can be completely impossible or extremely draining.
Food delivery apps may offer relief to seniors in these situations by letting them enjoy their favorite restaurants right at home and have their groceries brought to the door. Learn more about food delivery apps and if they might be a beneficial tool for you or a loved one.
You're probably already familiar with the idea of ordering a pizza. Food delivery apps are platforms that let you have food delivered from any restaurant or even the grocery store — just like a pizza. All you have to do is download the app, make your order and pick up your food at the door.
A driver registered through the app sees your order, gets the food for you and brings you your food. This tool can be helpful for mobility-impaired seniors or seniors who can’t drive. It lets you keep enjoying your favorite restaurants from home.
Food delivery services have become increasingly popular over the last few years, so there are a lot of options to choose from. Each app has specific benefits, such as lower prices and more service options. Take a look at the most popular food delivery apps to see which one is best for you
Grubhub is one of the top food delivery apps and is available across the U.S. Using a popular food delivery service means you’ll be more likely to get a driver to pick up the order. Grubhub delivers local restaurant and chain food. It also offers options for supporting local businesses by donating your change.
Grubhub’s main competition is DoorDash. While DoorDash does have a slightly smaller service reach than Grubhub, it offers other features that could make it a better choice if it’s available in your area. DoorDash has rating and recommendation features that let you find new restaurants and features for scheduling deliveries for specific times.
You probably recognize the name “Uber” from the on-demand taxi service. Uber Eats is Uber’s food delivery service. Since Uber was a little later to the game, it serves fewer cities than Grubhub or DoorDash. Phoenix is included in the UberEats service areas.
Not all food delivery apps are limited to restaurant orders. Instacart lets you have your groceries delivered. You just choose a grocery store, order your grocery list in the app and a delivery driver picks up your order and brings it to you. This service could be especially useful for seniors. Grocery runs involve a lot of walking, lifting and bending that could cause fatigue and inflammation or be completely undoable for some seniors.
Postmates lets you get almost anything delivered. You can get food, drinks, groceries and even alcohol delivered. Postmates’ unlimited subscription lets you get orders with no delivery fee. It’s currently $9.99 a month and could be a good option for seniors on a fixed income who need items delivered often.
The big downside of food delivery apps is the added cost. Since you’re buying the food and paying the delivery driver and app fees, the overall cost of your order goes up. You can expect to pay an extra 82% for using a delivery service. That means on a $100 order you may pay another $82 for the delivery. Using the delivery services regularly could become unaffordable, especially for seniors on a fixed income.
Fortunately, many food delivery services offer subscription plans. That means you would just pay a monthly fee instead of paying a fee on every order. This can be a much more cost-effective option if you order frequently. Keep in mind that you may still have to tip the driver and pay other fees.
There aren’t a ton of senior discount options for food delivery services. You may be able to save with new customer deals or by paying for a whole year's subscription. A 12-month Instacart subscription costs $99, but the subscription costs almost $120 a year if you pay monthly. Some seniors also may qualify for free food delivery services, such as Meals on Wheels and Project Angle Heart.
Seniors who find it challenging to get around and need food and groceries delivered might benefit from moving to an assisted living community. At Bethesda Gardens in Phoenix, residents enjoy the freedom of not having to grocery shop or pick up food. We provide homemade meals and even catering for special events. We also provide transportation for shopping.
