Wellness Activities for Adults in and Around Manitowoc, WI
Manitowoc, Wisconsin, has made the World Atlas's list of the eight best towns in the Great Lakes for retirees. It's not surprising, as it boasts incredible waterfront views of Lake Michigan, peaceful lakeside living, and many opportunities for nature-based recreational, social, and physical wellness activities for adults. It also doesn't hurt that the city offers older adults a beautiful living environment without the typical high price of coastal living.
LakeHouse Manitowoc, our beautiful assisted living community, is also proud to call Manitowoc, WI, home. Here, we offer our residents access to numerous local senior engagement and healthy aging activity programs.
So, join us today as we share insights into wellness activities seniors should consider engaging in and around Manitowoc, WI.
Outdoor Relaxation
According to an article by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, experts associate many physical and mental health benefits with outdoor time spent in green spaces. Examples include:
- Lower blood pressure
- Better sleep
- Decreased risk of chronic disease
- Increased levels of exercise
- Better mental health
- Reduced risk of psychiatric disorders
The good news is that Manitowoc, WI, makes access to green spaces easy, thanks to its beautiful natural surroundings and diverse landscapes. Here, residents and visitors alike, including seniors, can enjoy outdoor relaxation along the Lake Michigan shoreline, rivers, lakes, marshes, and numerous city parks and gardens. Older adults can spend some relaxing, leisure time at the Manitou Park, Lower Henry Schuette Park, or the West of the Lake Gardens.
Fun and Sports in Manitowoc's Beautiful Waters
Manitowoc boasts many water-based activities for senior enrichment in WI. Some of the top ones are:
- Neshotah Beach: Enjoy activities like swimming, kayaking, and beach volleyball
- Manitowoc Family Aquatic Center: A municipal water park with a heated pool, a lazy river, waterslides, and mini-golf
- North Pier Beach: A quieter alternative to Neshotah Beach
- Manitowoc River and Lake Michigan: For recreational boating and fishing activities (including salmon, trout, bass, pike, and catfish)
Spending time in blue spaces is one of the best healthy aging ideas, a claim backed up by research. A Washington State University study, for instance, associates blue and green spaces in urban areas (e.g., lakes, rivers, forests, and parks) with better physical and mental health among older adults.
Nature-Based Exercise
Engaging in physical activity is crucial to healthy aging because it helps keep the body fit. It also helps slow down the unwanted effects of aging, from skin wrinkles to muscle loss. Both indoor and outdoor exercise can benefit seniors in Manitowoc, but the latter may provide more perks.
A systematic review of studies published in Taylor & Francis online comparing indoor versus outdoor exercise found that:
- Exercise with green space exposure led to reduced heart rates, diastolic blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
- Urban green spaces may encourage more exercise and at higher intensities
- Outdoor environments engage cognitive and psychophysiological pathways
- Exercising in a beautiful, natural environment may be more enjoyable
The increased enjoyment from engaging in outdoor physical activities may then encourage seniors to stick to their health and fitness programs. The more exercise they get, the better for their health. The healthier they are, the longer they can stay on their feet, and the more independence they can retain.
Socializing at the Manitowoc Senior Center
The Manitowoc Senior Center provides adult wellness resources, services, and events for individuals aged 55 and older living in Manitowoc County, WI. It offers various programs aimed at helping older adults in their journey of healthy aging, such as:
- Fitness programs
- Mental stimulation
- Social interactions
- Initiatives that encourage independence, health, and aging well
The center is an excellent hub for older adults to meet other people, young and old. Here, members can participate in programs like "Winter Walking and "Walk Away the Pounds." They can also have fun with activities like bingo, pickleball, and pinochle.
Our assisted living community, LakeHouse Manitowoc, is just under 2 miles from the Manitowoc Senior Center, so our residents can enjoy quick and easy access to it.
Spending Quality Time With Grandkids
Manitowoc has loads of spots and activities that grandkids can do with grandparents for some quality time. Examples include:
- Visiting the Wisconsin Maritime Museum
- Exploring the Pinecrest Historical Village
- Adventuring at the Cherney Maribel Caves County Park
- Swimming and having fun at one or more of Manitowoc's beaches and lakes
One reason grandparents should spend time with and care for their grandkids is to improve brain health. It can keep older adults mentally sharp. Henry Ford Health says that "babysitting" encourages grandparents to engage in physical activity, socialization, and may even lower the risk for depression and Alzheimer's disease.
Healthy, Delicious Dining Made Social
Social dining can be a powerful wellness tool for seniors to stay fit and healthy. It can benefit older adults by:
- Fostering social interaction
- Helping combat loneliness and social isolation
- Promoting healthy eating that benefits overall health and wellness
- Encouraging the formation of support systems
All those perks and pros can help older adults in Manitowoc, WI, enhance their physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive health and well-being.
At LakeHouse Manitowoc, we recognize the value of social dining. Every day, our talented team of culinary experts works hard to provide residents with three chef-prepared meals in our elegant dining room.
Residents can also opt to dine in their spacious senior apartments. However, we encourage them to break bread with their fellow residents and friends.
Dining with others makes eating more pleasurable. It can be invaluable for seniors whose appetites often diminish with age.
Enjoy These Wellness Activities for Adults
From outdoor relaxation to water-based activities, nature-based exercise, and fun time with the grandkids, these are the top wellness activities for adults in Manitowoc, WI. They can all help seniors in the area stay physically fit, socially connected, and mentally stimulated.
If you or an older loved one is looking for a retirement village where wellness activities are part of the daily schedule, we invite you to explore LakeHouse Manitowoc. From our calendar of daily senior-centric activities to our social dining program and maintenance-free living, we offer all these and more in a beautiful, warm, and caring environment.
Call us today to book a tour of our assisted living community in Manitowoc, WI!