Summer safety for elderly parents in Maidenhead: Staying safe in the heat
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At GoodOaks Woodford Green, we’re always interested in the small, everyday things that can contribute to healthy ageing and wellbeing. Sauna use and dementia risk is one area that has attracted growing attention, with research exploring whether regular sauna bathing may be associated with a lower risk of dementia.
What’s particularly interesting is that sauna bathing isn’t a new wellness trend. Cultures around the world have been using heat, bathing and communal relaxation as part of everyday life for generations.
What does the research actually show?
Some of the most interesting research into sauna use comes from Finland, where saunas are very much part of everyday life.
The landmark Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease (KIHD) study followed more than 2,300 middle-aged Finnish men for around two decades. Researchers found that men who used a sauna four to seven times a week had a 66% lower risk of developing dementia and a 65% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease than those who used a sauna once a week. Even those using a sauna two to three times a week showed a lower risk.
A separate, much larger Finnish study followed almost 14,000 men and women for up to 39 years. It also found that more frequent sauna bathing was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia later in life.
These findings are certainly interesting, but it’s important to understand what the research does and doesn’t tell us. These studies found an association between sauna use and dementia risk; they don’t prove that using a sauna prevents dementia.
So why might there be a connection?
Researchers aren’t entirely sure, but the leading theory is that regular heat exposure benefits the cardiovascular system in a way that mirrors moderate aerobic exercise – improving blood vessel function, lowering blood pressure, and boosting circulation.
The relaxation and stress-reducing effects of sauna use may also contribute to overall wellbeing.
Beyond the brain: potential benefits for the wider body
Dementia research isn’t the only reason sauna use has attracted attention in healthy ageing.
Regular sauna bathing has also been associated with:
- Better heart health:
Frequent sauna bathing has been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular events and improved blood pressure, particularly when combined with light exercise. - Eased joint and muscle pain:
The heat increases blood flow to muscles and joints, which can help reduce stiffness – something many older adults with arthritis find genuinely helpful. - Improved sleep and relaxation:
The wind-down effect of heat exposure, followed by cooling, is thought to support better rest. - Relaxation and wellbeing:
For older people who find physical activity difficult, sauna bathing may offer an opportunity for relaxation and social connection, although it should not be considered a replacement for appropriate physical activity.
It’s important to remember that sauna use isn’t a replacement for physical activity. Where an older person is able to exercise safely, movement remains important for maintaining strength, mobility, balance and overall health.
An important word on safety
Sauna use isn’t suitable for everyone, particularly older people who are frail or living with certain health conditions.
Heat exposure raises heart rate and can affect blood pressure and hydration. Some medical conditions and medications can also affect how someone responds to heat.
If an older person is considering using a sauna for the first time, or increasing how often they use one, it’s sensible to speak to their GP or healthcare professional first.
If sauna use is considered appropriate, it should be approached gently, with careful attention to temperature, duration and hydration. Anyone feeling dizzy, faint or unwell should leave the sauna and cool down.
As with any wellbeing activity, what’s safe and appropriate will vary from person to person.
A tradition much older than the research
A tradition much older than the research
What’s striking about the Finnish findings is that they’re really catching up with something many cultures have practised – and trusted – for centuries.
- Finland treats the sauna as close to a national institution: there are roughly three million saunas for a population of 5.5 million people, and the tradition is so central to national identity that Finnish sauna culture was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Historically, the sauna was used for birth, healing, and even preparing the dead – it was often the first building constructed on a new homestead.
- Russia’s banya takes a more social, vigorous approach: high humidity, dense steam, and traditional birch-branch massage (venik), often centred around friendship and conversation as much as the heat itself.
- Japan’s onsen and sento culture is built around ritual and respect – bathers wash thoroughly before entering communal hot spring baths, with an emphasis on quiet, mindful cleansing.
- Korea’s jjimjilbangs are 24-hour public bathhouses where families and friends of all ages gather for hours, moving between themed heated rooms, resting on warm floors, and sharing food – as much a social hub as a wellness space.
- Turkey’s hammams centre on cleansing and renewal, with bathers moving through marble rooms of increasing heat before a traditional scrub and cool-down.
Although these traditions are very different, they have something in common: heat bathing has often been about connection as well as the physical experience.
It’s an opportunity to slow down, relax and spend time with other people. For older adults, maintaining social connections and having opportunities to take part in enjoyable activities can be an important part of overall wellbeing.
What does this mean for families we support?
For families across Woodford Green, South Woodford, Loughton and Waltham Forest, the takeaway isn’t necessarily that an older relative should start using a sauna.
For some older or frailer people, sauna use simply may not be appropriate. But the research does offer an interesting reminder that healthy ageing isn’t only about medical care. Everyday routines that encourage relaxation, movement, social connection and enjoyment can all contribute to wellbeing.
If you’re supporting a parent or relative and wondering whether an activity such as sauna bathing could be appropriate for them, it’s always worth discussing it with their GP first.
Our GoodOaks Woodford Green team can also help families think about practical ways to support independence, companionship and wellbeing as part of a person’s wider care routine.
A local option worth knowing about
Families in the area may also be interested in Lowlu, a London-based sauna and cold plunge operator with a site in Ilford, one of the closer options for families in Woodford Green, South Woodford and the wider Redbridge area.
Lowlu offers traditional Finnish-style saunas alongside cold plunge and relaxation spaces, bringing elements of Nordic sauna culture to local communities across London.
GoodOaks Woodford Green is partnering with Lowlu to explore an elderly-specific programme, with sessions tailored around the needs and comfort of older people rather than simply adapting a general public offering.
In keeping with the traditions explored above, the idea is about more than heat alone. A session can also provide an opportunity to slow down, socialise and enjoy a different kind of wellbeing experience.
We’re excited to explore what this could look like for older people in our local community, while keeping safety, individual needs and comfort at the heart of the programme.
Supporting healthy ageing at home
If you’re looking for support to help an older loved one remain independent and enjoy life at home, GoodOaks Homecare Woodford Green is here to help. Get in touch with our local team to find out more.
