When you think of retirement states, the first one that comes to mind is Florida. Right? How about Arizona?

Take a look, though, and you’ll notice that Delaware—and specifically Sussex county—has attracted many of the elderly. It’s probably because of our mid-Atlantic location, access to the beach, low taxes, and superior shopping. Many surrounding states are losing their elderly to Delaware. You’ll see many new communities in this area that are being built to cater to the elderly. There are even assisted living apartments now, and age-restricted communities.

When most of us think of aging, we think of eventually getting sick and ending up in a nursing home. But I found that there’s been an exciting improvement in elderly health statistics over the past decade. For the first time ever, the rate of disability among the elderly has dropped to under 20%.

The first thing I thought of was, why? I always believed that modern medicine was prolonging life, but if you watch enough TV, you get the impression that those last few years aren’t that good. In a personal example, in both my family and Dave’s family, we’ve had relatives who became sick for several months just before the end of their lives.

But the elderly seem to be improving their health overall due to better medical care, diet, and exercise. They are more mobile and better able to take care of themselves than ever before. Back in 1982, about 26.2% of elderly Americans were disabled, compared to only 19.7% in 1999 (the most recent statistics available).

It may not sound like a big change, but it is. In purely financial terms, it’s saved the government over $18.7 billion since 1982. That’s money that doesn’t have to be spent on Medicare. (It can now be squandered on much more worthwhile programs, like "Faith-Based Services" and a "Star Wars" missile defense!) It’s also meant that 400,000 people have been able to stay at home, instead of going into some type of care facility.

What interested me was the role exercise has played. While the general population continues to become fatter and more sedentary, the elderly as a whole are becoming more vigorous. I can happily report that my fitness center has attracted many older people in their 60s and 70s, and even one in her 80s. They come in on a more regular basis than any other age group, and use the full range of club facilities.

Many of them will tell you that they wish they had started exercising earlier in life. Some have health problems (like diabetes and arthritis) that are improved by exercise. I just wish younger people would take heed and exercise before they end up with a medical condition—not after, when their doctor requires them to.

Dave’s grandma Violet (she calls me her grandson, too) is the perfect example. She’s had blood pressure and heart problems over the past few years, and as a result, she was referred into physical therapy. She didn’t know what to expect. But after several months, she really looks forward to her sessions twice a week.

She takes a cab with a neighbor to the physical therapy center, where she walks on the treadmill and rides the bike for 10 minutes each, then does some dumbbell and machine exercises. "They used to pay a lot of attention to me, but now they trust me and just let me do my thing," she said. Not bad for being in your 80s, living in your own home, and staying active.

I think she regrets not starting some kind of exercise program long ago. She realizes now that it might have prevented some of the health problems she faces. In her case, necessity forced the issue. I think that’s true for most people, unfortunately.

We knew she was thinking about starting an exercise program when she asked us for a set of dumbbells for Christmas a few years ago. We showed her plenty of things to do with them. Dave and I took her into the living room and mapped out a nice easy exercise plan for her to follow. They were all the same exercises she’s now doing in therapy.

Along with the exercise regimen that many elderly people are following, they’re also modifying their dietary habits. Many were brought up with meat-and-potato diets that were heavy on starch, gravy, and fat. Many of the elderly are now eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, leaner cuts of meats, and seafood, while cutting down on carbohydrates, sugars, and fats. More and more restaurants are now starting to serve "senior size" menu items. The portion is smaller, and so is the price.

Water is also becoming more popular—especially because many elderly are chronically dehydrated. And doctors are starting to recommend vitamin and mineral supplements on a daily basis. While these aren’t cure-alls, they help fill in dietary gaps, especially among the elderly who are unable to eat a wide variety of foods due to digestive problems or bad teeth.

Check out the grocery stores on "super Tuesday." This is the day set aside specifically for seniors to receive some type of discount on their grocery bill. Hopefully, all of them are shopping for nutritious foods and not junk.

I have to admit that I’m not too far away from receiving my membership in AARP. I read where people like being AARP members, but they hate getting the monthly magazine. It’s too much of a regular reminder that they’re "older." I have to agree. Ouch!

But if I’m walking to my own mailbox under my own power to pick up the AARP magazine when I’m 85, well, I won’t feel so bad then. All this exercise will be paying off in the long run, too.