Debbie C. has worked as a clinical nurse at Salem Hospital for 33 years. “This is an amazing place to work!” she said. She currently takes care of patients in the hospital’s intermediate care unit. 

For the past 12 years, she has also volunteered as a fill-in aquatics instructor at the Dallas community pool.

“Back in 2002, I was looking for an exercise outlet and I decided to go to the Dallas Aquatic Center,” Debbie said.

Debbie discovered aquatics exercises offer a wide range of health benefits – from lowering blood sugar levels for diabetics to reducing pain and improving joint mobility for people with arthritis. It can also help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight.

Exercising in a pool combines water resistance and aerobic movements to create a low-impact cardiovascular workout. It’s often used as physical therapy for patients rehabilitating from an injury or surgery.

She soon became a regular in the water aerobics class and quickly made some new friends – including the instructor.

“My friend said, ‘Hey, if I have to go on vacation, could you cover me?’ And that’s how it all started,” she said. “It’s always a good feeling to give back to the community, especially the folks that I enjoy spending time with. Giving back makes anyone feel good, I think. It’s wonderful.”

Want to find that wonderful feeling for yourself? Volunteering could be right for you! Salem Health offers a wide array of volunteer opportunities for people of all ages. Find more information at salemhealth.org/volunteers.