Elderly people in Bangkok are being introduced to a new taxi service tailored to match their needs.
"The project is geared toward meeting the rising demand for specialist services from senior citizens with the nation set to become an ageing society in the near future," said Senior Taxi Thailand founder Rosalie Sanjuan.
"If an elderly person wants to go out somewhere or travel to a hospital while their children are busy working, they need taxi drivers who have training in other areas of care too," said Ms Rosalie, the 44-year-old businesswoman, who also runs a local centre which provides training to caregivers for children and the elderly.
"With their frailer bodies, they need drivers who can take care of them and possibly even administer first aid if necessary," she said.
In October, Ms Rosalie has rolled out Senior Taxi Thailand, a service in which the drivers receive a training course dedicated to the needs of those in their later years.
For example, if a passenger needs to go to a hospital for kidney dialysis, a Senior Taxi driver must know that side effects of the treatment, such as dizziness and nausea, may occur during the trip, and take care of his client accordingly, according to the firm's chief.
''Our taxi drivers are taught to do CPR," Ms Rosalie said, referring to a lifesaving technique called cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is useful in emergency cases like a heart attack.
Often the role of "driver" will intersect with that of "caregiver" for the company's target customers.
"Drivers are also given training in dealing with those who might be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease," she said.
The company's drivers are also encouraged to engage in stimulating conversation with their passengers, while avoiding the traditional taxi topics of politics or congestion, Ms Rosalie added.
"While a journey in one of our taxis won't fix the problems of age, it can certainly make life a bit easier for a senior citizen with a busy schedule," she said.
At present, there are 10 specially-trained drivers working for Senior Taxi Thailand. The company is partnering with taxi cooperatives to extend the reach of its service.
"We've received a good response from the passengers since the service launched," she claimed.