In a recent interview with the Alliance Care Team; KC Kannan, Co-Founder of Envoy America, shared Envoy’s solutions to providing quality service to the senior community. Envoy America is a transportation service company unlike any other.
Alliance Care Team Members
The Making of Senior Transportation Service, Envoy America
Kanaan started the interview by relaying his personal story: “My parents were getting a little bit older and their ability to drive went down from driving around the neighborhood, to driving at night, to not being able to drive on the highway. They weren’t as comfortable driving, which became a challenge as they got older. It got to the point where they stopped driving. My parents wanted to age at home and be close to their friends and be comfortable. They started to look for ways to stay independent, but their options weren’t good. Services like Lyft, Uber and taxis are available, but they’re not designed to help people who need extra help. For example, if someone is using a walker and they call a taxi to go to the grocery store, they have to wait outside on the curb to be picked up. The taxi drops them off in front of the grocery store and they have to navigate the aisles by themselves and then they have to call another taxi and wait to be picked up. That didn’t work for my parents.”
Senior Specific Assisted Transportation Benefits
Kanaan decided to do something about the problem. Both Founders, Andy Beran and K.C. Kannan, launched Envoy America about a year and a half ago in Scottsdale, AZ. The initial focus of the company was on people who lived at home, and then the focus shifted to businesses that provided services to people who couldn’t or shouldn’t drive.
Working with the American Cancer Society
The first call that Envoy received was from the American Cancer Society. They have a program called the “Road to Recovery” where any cancer patient can call the American Cancer Society. If they’re qualified, the American Cancer Society will provide services to patients to go to cancer treatments, see their doctors, etc. They tried to fulfill those transportation services with volunteers, but they really rely on other companies to make this happen. They reached out to Envoy and started a trial run with them, a taxi company and Uber. Not only was Envoy able to provide better service, but they were about 20-40% less expensive. For the past 11 months Envoy has been working with the American Cancer Society to provide services to patients.
What Makes Envoy a Unique Senior Transportation Service
You can call in advance to make reservations. It gives peace of mind, and makes people comfortable. Envoy drivers come to the door, so people don’t have to wait outside in the elements. In Phoenix it gets really hot, but in other places it gets very cold. Drivers come to the door at a specific time for pick up and help patients get into the car. Drivers stay with customers while they’re at appointments and make multiple stops if needed. Kanaan said, “We’re with you, and we take you wherever you need to go. We’re in the business of service and making people comfortable. That’s what our drivers are trained to do.” Envoy is committed to providing customers with the utmost care, assistance and companionship. They provide the same care that a son or daughter would give their own parent.