Deb Carrigan retired in 2006, after decades as a physical therapist with the Hutchinson, Minnesota hospital system.
She retired earlier than expected because she and her husband became full-time caregivers for her preschool grandson. She knew parenting this little guy would tax her energy, and she knew she needed to take care of herself. She intended to find new ways to contribute and be around other adults, eventually.
Fifteen minutes after Deb returned home from her retirement party the county public health director called asking if Deb would be willing to help with a project. An inter-agency group was writing a grant for an exercise program for seniors. The program, designed by Tufts University, was name Bone Builders. The team needed someone with credentials to evaluate the program.
Would Deb help? She hadn’t been retired a single day, but Deb said yes.
For the last few years before retiring, Deb held an administrative position in the hospital, leading all the units that specialized in rehabilitation. She loved it. But, she sat behind a desk all day and by the time she retired, she had been diagnosed with osteopenia—a thinning of bones that can lead to osteoporosis.
She had a personal interest in bone building.
What Deb Does
In 2007, the team launched the program in assisted living facilities in the county. Deb’s job was to test exercisers when they began and then again after 6 and 12 months to see if the program made a difference. It did. Just two hours a week over the course of a year was enough to improve strength and balance.
Then the team needed a volunteer to lead a Bone Builders group in Hutchinson at the Senior Center. Deb said she would take the position until they found someone else. She began leading one-hour sessions on Mondays and Wednesday. And she decided to use herself as a guinea pig.
She knew the program increased strength and balance, but was it powerful enough to actually build bone? Her bone? A few years later when Deb had her next bone scan she was back to normal—no thinning bones. In fact, her doctor told her she had the bones of a 40 year old.
She reversed her osteopenia. Deb was a convert.
She believes in the program so strongly that now she trains new volunteers to lead Bone Builder classes in other places in Minnesota.
Deb’s Contribution
In Deb’s class, people feel they belong, so they show up for themselves and for one another. I believe she helps people feel connected, expected, cared about.
She helps people get strong, so they prevent falls, and breaks, and depression.
And she helps people get strong so when tough things do happen, like knee replacements, pneumonia, or the death of a loved one, they recover from the pain and heartbreak more quickly.
Deb’s Reward
Deb’s volunteer work is not convenient. She travels 60-miles round trip to lead the group because she knows it works and it is a way for her to make sure she exercises. And she does it because the participants are now her friends. She looks forward to seeing them. Some days the room is so packed that people spill out into the hallway.
“There are a lot of days that, once I get my grandson on the bus, I would just as soon curl up with a book for a couple of hours. But I think, there are 50 people who are going to show up. If they can do it, I can do it. And then once I get here, it is such a feel good thing that I am really glad I did it. You can feel the energy in the room, even with a small group. It just feeds you. You end up feeling better than when you got here.”
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Want to volunteer as a Bone Builder exercise leader when you Retire for Good?
If you live in the Twin Cities Metro Area or Mora, MN, contact Volunteers of America. If you live somewhere else, Google Bone Builders and your state to find something near you.