A good example of healthy living

Elwood Dean, a World War II veteran and selfless volunteer at Beebe Healthcare, died recently at the age of 92. He lived a good long life.

Many drivers coming to and from Beebe and the Lewes schools saw Elwood frequently, though they may not have known his name. For years he walked the shoulder of Savannah Road, going to the store, going to Beebe to help out, upright, purposeful and friendly. According to a local doctor, Elwood walked because his vision was so poor he couldn’t drive.

But that didn't stop him. The doctor said the regular walking helped Elwood avoid diabetes problems that often afflict people as they begin to age, and also those who don’t have much activity in their lives. In families with histories of diabetes, people like Elwood who get lots of daily exercise often outlive other members of their families who don’t get the exercise. All in all, it’s a potent statement.

Recent news in Delaware shows a state budget increasingly pressured by funding required for Medicare and Medicaid programs to assist senior citizens and low-income folks. As we’ve reported many times in the past, as high as 70 percent of health issues treated and paid for through these programs relate to lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor dietary habits and lack of exercise.

If those lifestyle choices don’t change, our state and federal budgets won’t have a chance to meet all the other pressing needs such as basic transportation infrastructure and national defense.

In the past few years, Delaware has invested significant money in pathways and trails to make it easy for people to get outside and walk and exercise safely. Our health and our wallets will benefit over the years if we take advantage of this enlightened build-it-and-they-will-come approach.

Delaware’s Cape Region is developing a reputation for an active outdoors lifestyle. The more we all embrace that lifestyle and emulate the example of people like Elwood Dean, the happier, healthier and wealthier we all will be.