Jelly Drops: award-winning sweets that boost hydration

Alzheimer’s Society has supported the development of Jelly Drops, delicious bite-sized sweets, designed to boost health and hydration. Jelly Drops have helped over 80,000 people living with dementia.

What are Jelly Drops?

Jelly Drops sweets are 95% water. They're sugar-free and enriched with electrolytes and vitamins, offering an easy and tasty way to support hydration. 

They were invented by Lewis Hornby, who was inspired by his late grandmother and her love for sweets. Lewis developed bright, raindrop-shaped sweets as an easy way to increase her daily water intake.

Lewis and his team have worked alongside people with dementia, doctors and dementia psychologists to develop their fantastic product.

Lewis and his late grandma Pat tasting Jelly Drops

Lewis Hornby and his late grandmother, Pat

Alzheimer’s Society is delighted to have partnered with Lewis and the Jelly Drops team through our Accelerator Programme during the product's development.

Since launching in July 2020, we have been excited to see Jelly Drops reaching people living with dementia who need them. They're also now available across the US and Canada, as well as here in the UK.

Dehydration and dementia 

Dehydration is a common challenge for older people, and especially people with dementia. Memory problems mean that people living with dementia can often forget to drink enough water.

What’s more, the part of the brain that tells you when you’re thirsty doesn’t always work properly. Unfortunately, this can lead to confusion and even hospitalisation.

A woman in a wheelchair is smiling as she's offered some sweets, next to that is a close up shot of the colourful sweets.

Jelly Drops are solid but with a smooth texture - they don’t have a liquid centre or pop when eaten.

How the sweets have evolved

Following insightful customer feedback, Jelly Drops have evolved from their original tray format to the snack pot format which is easier to hold and uses 50 per cent less packaging.

Each pot contains the equivalent of 50ml of water, meaning 3 servings a day delivers a 150ml hydration boost.

Jelly Drops also now contain essential B-complex vitamins to support psychological function and immunity, delivering hydration and a boost of vitamins via the same innovative format.

The water sweets come in six fruity flavours: orange, peach, blackcurrant, strawberry, lemon and raspberry. They're solid but with a smooth texture - they don’t have a liquid centre or pop when eaten.

Colin Capper, Associate Director of Evidence and Participation at Alzheimer's Society said,

"It’s wonderful to see how the Jelly Drops team have continued to improve their offering, helping people living with dementia stay hydrated."

"Snackpots make Jelly Drops more affordable, eco-friendly and accessible, which will hopefully help to reach even more people in the future."

A team of people sit together for a group photo in their office

The Jelly Drops team.

Order Jelly Drops today

You can buy Jelly Drops on the Alzheimer's Society shop through the link below. Or, get a free trial when you start a discounted subscription through the Jelly Drops website.

Buy Jelly Drops

216 comments

I am very interested. For my self and others who work in a fast paced retail environment. It's extremely difficult to get even a. Sip of water during any shift. I suffer from dyhration. Resulting in terrible leg cramps. This would be a life changer!

Where can I buy them in USA?

Hi Gerardo,

Just following up to let you know that Jelly Drops have now launched in the US. They are available to buy via the US website https://www.jellydrops.us/cart

Many thanks,

Alzheimer's Society website team

My friend has dementia and these would be brilliant for her, but she’s also vegetarian. Would they be suitable for vegetarian as well as other users?

I’ve been trying to track the progress of these for a while, can’t wait for these to become available. it’s an excellent idea that many people will benefit from

I would love to buy these for my grandmother who is going through chemo. She is unable to eat or drink and I think this products would help a lot with keeping her hydrated ! Please start selling soon

I would love to be able to get my hands on some. Our mother suffers with Dementia and has constant UTI’S. She does not get enough fluids so would love these.

Would a diabetic version be available?

I work in a care home and would love to trial this. A lot of our residents would benefit from this.

Please can you let me know if these will be vegetarian? I think they are a fantastic idea and would also help others with eating disorders as well as those with dementia.

We would like to trial Jelly drops at our care home as we feel they would be extremely beneficial.

fantastic idea! This will help my Mum no end. Hope they are available soon. Well done!

What a brilliant idea, This would help my dad so much as getting him to drink is so hard, but he loves his sweets

Brilliant Idea.
My mom is one that refuses to drink water, Diet Pepsi is the only liquid she’ll drink. Is there anything we caretakers can do to help speed up the process?

Can’t wait until these are available to buy

Sounds fantastic. I have trouble getting my 95 year old Mom to drink enough especially in this extreme weather
Please get them available ASAP thank you