The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. ... more
We know society is ageing. We know exercise offers the potential of a healthier – as well as a longer – life. The problem is, by classifying anyone over the age of 50 as ‘old, the fitness industry is missing a trick.
Because the decades after 50 can constitute half of a person’s life, and encompass everything from full mental and physical fitness through to muscle loss and dementia. So where are the clubs that cater for the truly old and frail? The answer: they’re few and far between, and even where they do exist, the focus is often on the physical – mainly falls prevention – and the social, offering companionship and community.
But what about the direct mental impact of exercise? One topic that’s getting a lot of attention among the scientific community is dementia, and the positive impact exercise can have on this devastating condition – we review some of the latest research on page 124.
But as yet, few fitness facilities have focused on this wonderful benefit of exercise. Step forward UK-based community interest company LiveWire, which has just had plans approved for a £16m neighbourhood leisure, culture, health and wellbeing hub in Warrington. Set to open in Q3 2016, it will be LiveWire’s first dementia-friendly facility.
Locklynne Hall, LiveWire’s innovation and leadership manager, explains what that means: “The person with dementia has difficulty remembering things, so you can’t rely on them building up a familiarity with where things are – you need appropriate signage. Their more recent memories are lost first, so if your toilet signs are a variation on the stick man that became common in the 60s, it might be meaningless to someone whose memory stops before then.
“You need appropriate fittings too, because the person with dementia also has difficulty working things out. They may not understand how to use clinical-style taps and mixer faucets in toilets. Unfamiliar plumbing will cause delays and confusion that could lead to incontinence and distress.
“You also need a well thought-out colour and décor scheme. If someone has developed problems with depth perception and visual processing, a pattern on the floor may appear to be a trip hazard: this momentary confusion can cause them to stumble and fall.”
Equally importantly, LiveWire trains its staff – and members of the local community – to understand the condition. It’s piloting a number of programmes too: early onset dementia groups, for example, offering healthy walking classes and tai chi. “We’re also developing a ‘lessen your chances’ programme of activities,” adds Hall.
There are lessons to learn from other sectors too, with evidence to suggest that environments which stimulate longer-term memories can be beneficial. For example, the Jamtli museum in Sweden has created the environment of a 1970s house, designed to jog dementia sufferers’ memories of happy, younger years. Engagement levels are reportedly high, and the individuals are also calmer and more content in this familiar environment.
As the population gets older, the need to be dementia-friendly will be inescapable. “The big message,” concludes Hall, “is that we’re at the point of no return. We have to act today, because tomorrow’s challenge is already upon us.”
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
