There is a new, free option for dementia friendly exercise Hatfield families can try this autumn. Every Wednesday from 12pm to 1pm, Hatfield Leisure Centre runs a wellness session for people living with dementia and the people who care for them.
The sessions launched on 2 September, and places are booked at reception. Below we set out what happens, what else is nearby for over-55s, and how a familiar routine at home can make a weekly outing easier to keep.
What are the new dementia friendly exercise sessions in Hatfield?
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council announced the sessions on 3 September 2026. The council funds them, and GLL runs them in partnership with the council. They take place in the Wellness Hub at Hatfield Leisure Centre, Travellers Lane, Hatfield, AL10 8TJ.
Participants use Innerva power-assisted exercise machines, which the council describes as designed to make exercise more accessible. The sessions are open to people living with dementia and their carers, with support available throughout. GLL, which runs the sessions, says they are free to attend until the end of the year.
On the last Wednesday of each month, local charities, health services and community groups attend to share advice and details of local support. In October, that falls on Wednesday 28 October. It can be a useful hour for a family member who wants to ask questions while their relative is busy and in good hands.
To book, ask at the leisure centre reception. The council's listing points to better.org.uk/hatfield-leisure-centre for more information, and it is worth checking the arrangements for the new year before January.
Other gentle activity for over-55s around Hatfield
Not everyone takes to a gym setting, even a calm one. A different option is the seated exercise to music class for over-55s at Hollier Court, French Horn Lane, Hatfield, AL10 8BX. It runs on Thursdays from 11am to 12pm, is listed as free, and bookings are taken on 01462 683307.
Seated classes may suit someone who is less steady on their feet, or who simply enjoys music. The NHS activities page for people with dementia also mentions singing as something known to improve mood and wellbeing. For families in Old Hatfield or Welham Green, both venues are a short trip, which helps when energy is limited.
Why keeping active matters when someone has dementia
The Alzheimer's Society page on physical activity for people with dementia lists several benefits. These include maintaining coordination and balance, improving sleep quality and energy levels, and providing opportunities to meet and talk with others. It also notes that strong muscles and flexible joints can help people keep doing things for themselves.
The NHS physical activity guidelines for older adults suggest being active every day, even if only lightly. They recommend activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility on at least two days a week, and breaking up long periods of sitting. The NHS also advises speaking to a GP first if someone has not exercised for a while or has a health condition.
The Alzheimer's Society suggests looking at current routines and building more movement into them. It also suggests looking for dementia-friendly groups or classes at local gyms or leisure centres. Regular dementia friendly exercise in Hatfield, on the same day and at the same time each week, fits that advice well.
How a family member or carer can go along
The Hatfield sessions are designed for carers to attend too. A husband, wife, son or daughter can go along, take part alongside, or simply be a familiar face in the room. For some exercises, the Alzheimer's Society suggests asking someone to stay with you.
When family cannot be there every week, a carer can go instead. That might mean helping your relative get ready, travelling there together and staying for the hour. Families we support often tell us that a known face makes the difference between going and staying at home.
Remember that any questions about health, medication or whether a type of exercise is suitable belong with the GP or the person's healthcare team. For anything urgent that is not an emergency, NHS 111 can help.
Keeping the week's routine going with care at home
A one-hour class sits inside a whole day. Getting washed and dressed, eating lunch at a sensible time, and finding coats and shoes can take longer with dementia. Afterwards, many people are tired and benefit from a quiet, settled afternoon.
This is where our dementia and Alzheimer's care service can help in practical ways. A carer can arrive in good time on a Wednesday, help with personal care and lunch, and go along to the session. Back home, they can make a drink, prompt medication as set out in the care plan, and sit together for a calm afternoon.
We agree a care plan with the family and aim for familiar carers on consistent visits, so the week has a recognisable shape. Our earlier guides cover what dementia care at home in Hatfield involves and local dementia support across Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, if you would like more background.
Our local team in Welwyn Hatfield
Starling Homecare is an independent, family-run home care provider regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Our Welwyn Hatfield home care team can talk through how visits might fit around a weekly class or a regular outing.
You can reach the team on 01707 714 000 or at [email protected]. Visiting care starts from £34 an hour and live-in care starts from £255 a day. These are starting rates, and a price is agreed after an assessment of what your relative needs.
Common questions about dementia friendly exercise in Hatfield
Do the Hatfield Leisure Centre sessions cost anything?
GLL says the Wednesday wellness sessions are free to attend until the end of the year. The council's event listing shows them running weekly into 2027. Ask at reception about any charges from January onwards.
Can I attend with my relative who has dementia?
Yes. The sessions are open to people living with dementia and their carers, and support is available throughout. If a paid carer will be going instead of a family member, it is worth checking this with reception when you book.
How do we book a place?
Places are booked at the reception desk at Hatfield Leisure Centre on Travellers Lane. For the Thursday seated exercise class at Hollier Court, the listing gives 01462 683307 for bookings.
Should we check with the GP before starting?
The NHS suggests speaking to a GP first if someone has not been active for a while or has a medical condition. The Alzheimer's Society also suggests stopping any activity that causes pain, dizziness or breathlessness. Your GP can advise on what is suitable.
A steady place to start
A weekly hour of movement, with a familiar face alongside, can give the whole week a little more shape. Whether you go along yourself or someone goes in your place, the Wednesday sessions are an easy thing to try. If more support at home would help the routine hold, our local team is here to talk it through.
Details checked against Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council news and event listings, the NHS physical activity guidelines for older adults and the Alzheimer's Society on 12 October 2026. Our prices are starting rates, checked on the same date.
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