The Senior Scene

(Pictured: About half of family caregivers fit into two categories: They’re women, and they spend 20 hours per week on the duties.)

By Taylor Shurman

About 53 million U.S. adults assist their older relatives, spouses, friends, or neighbors with daily tasks like cooking and dressing. This means one in five Americans is a caregiver.

Seniorliving.org conducted a study of more than 1,700 of these unpaid family caregivers. The research, combined with insights from industry leaders, provide deeper insights into the state of family caregiving, a spokesman said.

Key findings from the study, according to seniorlist.org, include:

• 59 percent of family caregivers are women, who report higher levels of emotional stress, depression, and challenges with balancing caregiving duties compared to men.
• 43 percent of caregivers are the sole providers of care, typically spending 20 hours per week on caregiving duties.
• 53 percent of family caregivers work full-time jobs, meaning they must balance their caregiving and workplace responsibilities.
• 47 percent of caregivers receive no formal support, such as financial aid, counseling, or respite care, despite 88 percent saying they need more help.
• 43 percent of family caregivers report trouble sleeping, and 36 percent report feelings of depression.
• While 65 percent of caregivers haven’t participated in support groups, those who have prefer online forums and Facebook groups over in-person meetings.

Many family caregivers (nearly 1 in 4) care for multiple older adults at once, and over half of those surveyed had cared for a family member or friend for at least three years. While this suggests they may have gained experience and skills, it raises concerns about potential physical and emotional burnout.

The time and tasks involved in caregiving vary widely depending on the care recipient’s needs. Some may be relatively simple, like transportation to medical appointments. Others may be complex medical or nursing tasks, such as medication management or administering injections. AARP reports that nearly 60 percent of caregivers assist with medical or nursing tasks.

The most common reasons older adults require unpaid care are old age (16 percent), mobility issues (12 percent), Alzheimer’s/dementia (11 percent), cancer (6 percent), and mental illness (5 percent).

Source: Seniorliving.org, which provides information and research on topics affecting older adults.

(Pictured: One of the sights for train passengers in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.)

Wondering what are some of the must-experience travel opportunities by train for the post-retirement adventurer in 2025? Some of the answers are just north of the U.S.-Canada border.

Rail expeditions through the majestic Canadian Rockies, some of them starting in Vancouver, B.C., are at the top of the list for Vacations by Rail, a Chicago-based organizer of  train vacations.

For train-lovers with an equal affection for Europe, the tracks beckon in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Combined with picturesque river cruises,  these experiences are custom-tailored to the retired traveler, with minimal walking required and more time to enjoy iconic destinations comfortably.

From independent opportunities that allow for bespoke exploration, to tours led by world-class guides, it’s all aboard for myriad bucket-list journeys.

Canadian Rockies, starring

Banff  and Lake Louise

This seven-day independent trip through Canada puts gorgeous scenery at every turn. The adventure begins with two days of sightseeing in Vancouver before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer for two days of daylight-only travel, with an overnight hotel stay in-between.

Patrons will travel past rivers and forests to Lake Louise. The journey continues through the mountains to the resort town of Banff, which is renowned for its variety of outdoor attractions, activities and charming downtown area, before concluding with a transfer to Calgary.

Canadian Rockies and

Rocky Mountaineer

Beginning in Vancouver, stunning views of the mountains and the ocean are part of a full day in the city before boarding the daylight-only chariot into the Rockies aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. The escorted tour makes an overnight stop in Kamloops, then continues through forests, mountain passes, and canyons en route to Jasper.

Moving further into the mountains, a stop is made at Columbia Icefield to explore Athabasca Glacier before headiing out again and arriving in Banff.

Glacier Express and the

 majestic Rhine Cruise

Explorers enjoy a scenic alpine adventure aboard the legendary Glacier Express – considered one of the world’s finest escorted rail journeys – before descending into the valley for a Rhine River cruise.

The beautiful blue Danube

Travelers experience the convenience of direct flights to and from Munich for this eight-day luxury cruise on the Danube River. The scorted itinerary is an introduction to the must-see highlights of the Danube. River voyagers will enjoy leisurely cruising through four countries and three capital cities, with plenty of time to admire the river scenery.

Romantic Rhine Cruise

The breathtaking beauty of the Rhine River is on tap from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps. An escorted cruise through France, Germany, and the Netherlands while bound for Switzerland is a memory-making opportunity to admire stunning forested valleys, charming half-timbered towns, and incredible cities along the enchanting riverbanks.

Source: Vacations by Rail

Crossword puzzle have been standbys since the 19th century to challenge and entertain. But how many people complete these puzzles regularly? 

In a survey of 1,000 crossworders, 25 percent say they do one regularly. Another 65 percent do them occasionally. Nearly all the puzzle-solving is done at home, and with 1 in 10 saying they do it in the bathroom. Fifty-six percent their family members join in the fun.

Crosswords apparently are more popular than other brain-teasing puzzles. About two of every three survey participants said they prefer crosswords to Sudoku. 

The survey also asked how people play. The answers: When stumped, 69 percent try to work around the baffling clue and fill in some letters, figuring it’s easier to solve a clue when they know it contains certain letters. Other strategies include guessing and checking or researching the question, and nearly 1 in 4 just look up the answers. And 85 percent start with “Across” clues first. 

Doing crosswords reportedly has positive and negative effects on puzzle solvers, such as expanded vocabulary, better problem-solving skills, and an increase in headaches. Some people even look forward to certain days of the week just because they know a new crossword is coming out. On that note, the New York Times’ is the most popular daily puzzle. It’s also considered the most challenging. Folks also like the crosswords in their local papers (including, we hear often, in Senior Scene).

SOURCE: unscrambled-words.com, an online word-solving tool.

A sulrvey completed in January revealed what potential homebuyers over the age of 55 might be looking the rest of this year and beyond.

55places.com, an online resource for active-adult community information, released the findings of its 2025 55+ Housing Survey, which took the homebuying pulses of 1,292 people. A spokesman said the results revealed that many active adults are more determined than ever to make the most of their lives, which is influencing their housing choices. Most indicated they are planning to make a move within the next few years, with 52 percent intending to buy a new home within the next 12 months. Here are the survey highlights:

• The rise of community. 53 percent of respondents cited their desire to live in a 55-plus community as the top reason for their move, followed closely by the desire for a new location (51 percent).
• Age-restricted communities are gaining popularity. Thirty-eight percent of respondents prefer them, a significant increase compared to previous surveys.
• Sixty-four percent of respondents expressed interest in health and fitness groups within communities, underlining the importance of wellness for active adults.
• Economic confidence. Despite concerns over current economic conditions, 48 percent of respondents feel the economy hasn’t impacted their attitude toward purchasing a home.
• Long-distance moves are okay, with 69 percent of respondents considering or planning to move to a new state. Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina remain top destinations for retirees.

Some of the largest communities are in Florida and Arizona.

“Active adults are more focused than ever on finding a home that suits their lifestyle,” said Bill Ness, chief executive officer of 55places.com. He previously worked as a sales leader for an active-adult community.

“From the desire to be part of a vibrant community to prioritizing health and fitness, the 55-plus demographic is making deliberate, informed decisions about their next move,” Ness said.