Compassionate Cruisers

Serenity Rides rolls out luxury driving services and peace of mind for Dallas seniors

Wise beyond his 25 years, Leon Jacobson understands first-hand the importance of accessible, quality care for the elderly. So he founded Serenity Rides, a soon-to-launch luxury driving service for seniors.

"I saw my dad taking care of my grandmother, taking her everywhere she needed to go while balancing his work," he says. "There are a lot of families in similar situations that need a trusting service that will assist their parents or grandparents."

That's the idea behind Serenity Rides, which Jacobson says is focused on "removing stress from people's lives."

Unlike most driving services that simply pick up and drop off, Serenity Rides offers a more personal experience, with drivers willing and eager to spend time with clients. Whether seniors need to go to the doctor or the opera, they have that option — as long as the pick-up and destination are between Dallas and Frisco.

"The driver can be like a companion," Jacobson says. "Senior citizens still want to go out and enjoy life; our service allows them to do so in a stress-free environment."

Serenity Rides' vehicle of choice is a black 2013 Buick LaCrosse, because Jacobson wanted a luxurious but comfortable American-made car with a lot of legroom and space for collapsible wheelchairs and walkers. Serenity Rides is also a member of the American Society on Aging and the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association.

In addition to excellent road skills, drivers are passionate about working with the elderly. The company promises an experience so personal that Jacobson will meet with the family prior to the first drive, if requested. "I want families to feel comfortable knowing that we're there to help," he says.

Rides officially begin at the end of month, but you can start planning now. The website is ready to accept reservations; simply request the date of service (at least 24 hours in advance), choose up to three passengers, and add the trip duration. A travel assistant will follow up with confirmation.

Transportation is available from 8 am to 8 pm; other hours are available upon request. Prices are competitive and vary depending on the duration and distance, and there are frequent rider plans and referral discounts for the first three months. Conveniently, Serenity Rides secures payment via credit card, and there is no tipping. So if you book a ride for your grandmother, she won't have to worry about paying.

Jacobson says that he is still hiring drivers. So if you're a nurse looking for extra work or just a compassionate person and capable driver, email info@serenityrides.com.

Serenity Rides founder Leon Jacobson.

Photo courtesy of Serenity Rides

Serenity Rides founder Leon Jacobson.

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Jobs report

Texas ranks among 10 best states to find a job, says new report

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

You have a better chance of landing a job in Texas than in most other states.

If you’re hunting for a job in Texas amid a tough employment market, you stand a better chance of landing it here than you might in other states.

A new ranking by personal finance website WalletHub of the best states for jobs puts Texas at No. 7. The Lone Star State lands at No. 2 in the economic environment category and No. 18 in the job market category.

Massachusetts tops the list, and West Virginia appears at the bottom.

To determine the most attractive states for employment, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 34 key indicators of economic health and job market strength. Ranking factors included employment growth, median annual income, and average commute time.

“Living in one of the best states for jobs can provide stable conditions for the long term, helping you ride out the fluctuations that the economy will experience in the future,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo says.

In September, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas led the U.S. in job creation with the addition of 195,600 jobs over the past 12 months.

While Abbott proclaimed Texas is “America’s jobs leader,” the state’s level of job creation has recently slowed. In June, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas noted that the state’s year-to-date job growth rate had dipped to 1.8 percent, and that even slower job growth was expected in the second half of this year.

The August unemployment rate in Texas stood at 4.1 percent, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Throughout 2025, the monthly rate in Texas has been either four percent or 4.1 percent.

By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate in August was 4.3 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2025, the monthly rate for the U.S. has ranged from 4 percent to 4.3 percent.

Here’s a rundown of the August unemployment rates in Texas’ four biggest metro areas:

Austin — 3.9 percent
Dallas-Fort Worth — 4.4 percent
San Antonio — 4.4 percent
Houston — 5 percent

Unemployment rates have remained steady this year despite layoffs and hiring freezes driven by economic uncertainty. However, the number of U.S. workers who’ve been without a job for at least 27 weeks has risen by 385,000 this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in August. That month, long-term unemployed workers accounted for about one-fourth of all unemployed workers.

An August survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed a record-low 44.9 percent of Americans were confident about finding a job if they lost their current one.

This story originally was published on our sister site, InnovationMap.

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