American House Bluewater Bay Over 90 Club

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Faces and Places of the Panhandle
American House Bluewater Bay Over 90 Club

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Tucked away in the heart of Niceville, American House Bluewater Bay may look like a quiet retirement community from the outside, but step inside and you’ll find a place full of energy, laughter, and life. It’s home to 104 independent residents, 33 of whom are 90 or older.

And they’re not just getting by. They’re thriving.

It all started with a simple comment from Jim “Papa” Diddle, who, at 95, is the oldest man in the building.

“You’re talking about the 90 club? It was entirely my idea by accident,” he said. “I heard a young lady say she was over 90, and I casually said, ‘Oh, that’s good, you’re a member of my 90s club.’ And that’s the way it started. Right there.”

That offhand remark sparked what’s now officially known as the Over 90s Club, with 33 active members. The oldest member? A sharp and spirited 96-year-old woman named Grace.

“You’ve got to keep involved, doing things and being with people,” she said. “I’m usually smiling and happy with where I am and how I am at the time. This is a good place to be. There are a lot of good people here. And we old ladies do okay.”

The group meets regularly, sharing stories, cracking jokes, and reminding each other and everyone around them that growing older doesn’t mean slowing down.

Outreach Director Donna Brannon says their spirit is contagious.

“You guys are here living independently, you’re over 90, you’re not dead yet,” Brannon told them with a grin. “You’re still doing things on your own, for yourself.”

Brannon has become more than just a staff member to many of the residents.

“We’re a big, happy family at American House,” she said. “These are all my grandparents. I love them like my own flesh and blood — and I’ll fight anybody for them.”

The advice from the Over 90s Club on how to make it that far? Papa Diddle has a three-part formula.

“You’ve got to have a sense of humor that’s number one,” he said. “Be tolerant, number two. And number three... you don’t have to be sober.”

At American House, age isn’t seen as a limit; it’s a badge of honor. For Papa Diddle and his fellow club members, life in your 90s isn’t just about longevity. It’s about attitude.

“It’s an experience,” he said. “You hang on the best you can, take care of yourself, do as much as you can, and cause as much trouble as possible.”

In a world that often overlooks its elders, the residents of American House Bluewater Bay are proving that getting older isn’t the end, it’s just a different kind of beginning.