It's an interesting question, though it is somewhat suburb-centric.
In NYC, the elderly and disabled have no natural access to these kinds of services unless they live a block or two away from such an establishment, for the simple reason that hardly anyone living in NYC owns a car. Yes, they can take a cab, and that makes it feasible, but economically speaking, the most common outcome is these people are dependent on the bodega on their block to provide their food.
Well said, but I actually had the UES in mind, specifically as compared to the UWS, which always seemed much more accessible by comparison. More trains, fewer hills, and better spacing-out of services. But the socioeconomic make-up is also very different, so it might be a non-issue.
I disagree, I see a lot of elderly people pushing around some pretty sizable grocery hauls in wheeled carts in NYC. When you're retired and you don't have anything else to do with your time, then walking some extra blocks to go to a real grocery store and save money and get better product is absolutely worth it. People live longer in Manhattan than anywhere else in the United States. Part of that has to do with people continuing to be active and getting exercise at older ages. And grocery runs count. But you're definitely right that hardly anyone owns a car.
I see no reason to automatically equate "elderly and disabled" with "poor" (bodega?!). Ubers/Lyfts are not terribly expensive compared to owning and maintaining a car+insurance in the city, especially if only used for shopping and not commuting.
In NYC, small grocery stores (i.e. one of many retail storefronts on a block) are often colloquially referred to as bodegas, no matter the economic status of the area.
I have to second the other guy. There's no negative stigma associated with the word "bodega". It's just a small store that sells a large variety of random goods, including food, and that is run as a small business (i.e. it isn't a national chain). They're everywhere, in all neighborhoods.
In NYC, the elderly and disabled have no natural access to these kinds of services unless they live a block or two away from such an establishment, for the simple reason that hardly anyone living in NYC owns a car. Yes, they can take a cab, and that makes it feasible, but economically speaking, the most common outcome is these people are dependent on the bodega on their block to provide their food.