Inspired by his grandmother Pat, Lewis Hornby has invented bright, bite-sized sweets known as Jelly Drops to tackle dehydration in dementia.
Alzheimer’s Society is delighted to be partnering with the Jelly Drops team to bring their fantastic product to people living with dementia.
Lewis’ story
Lewis’ grandmother Pat is living with dementia and was sadly hospitalised due to dehydration. Inspired by his grandmother’s love for sweets, Lewis put his innovative skills to the test and developed bright, raindrop shaped sweets known as Jelly Drops. The sweets are made up of 90% water and other electrolytes to make them even more hydrating.
Lewis Hornby and his grandmother Pat.
Lewis and the Jelly Drops team have worked closely with Pat and other people with dementia to develop their fantastic product. This week the team were also awarded the people’s choice award at [email protected]
Bringing Jelly Drops to the people who need them
Alzheimer’s Society is delighted to be supporting Jelly Drops over the next year through our Accelerator programme.
Our panel of experts and people affected by dementia worked with the Society to select Accelerator partners who receive £100,000 to continue to develop their product and bring them to the people who need them faster.
Over the next year Alzheimer’s Society will be working closely with the Jelly Drops team to continue to develop their brilliant product alongside people affected by dementia and bring it to the market.
The Jelly Drops team.
Dehydration and dementia
Dehydration is a common issue for older people and especially those with dementia.
Often people living with dementia will forget to drink or will not be interested in drinking. Unfortunately this can lead to confusion and even hospitalisation.
This effect is often exaggerated as the symptoms of dehydration can be confused with the symptoms of dementia. This makes it more difficult to spot dehydration in people living with the condition.
Can I purchase Jelly Drops today?
At this stage Jelly Drops are not available to buy as they are still in development.
Alzheimer’s Society will be working with the Jelly Drops team to support them to develop their product and make it available as widely as possible to people affected by dementia.
Sign up for updates about Jelly Drops
Stay up to date on the development of Jelly Drops and when they will be available.
Catherine
sayssome hydration methods I have found useful that can be purchased:
jelly/Jell O in the US - this can be bought in sugarfree low cal versions and are high in water
adding sugar/salt combination to water (if they can/will still drink). There are recipes available online
Rehydration powder- I usually buy this from a health food store locally. I would add it to a favoured food or Jelly/Jell O
These are just some options you could try (with clearance from medical professionals first)
Jose
saysWhy are these still in development? It's been years! My mom is now at a severe stage of dimentia and won't drink or swallow water.
Mary Ann Scadding
saysPlease tell me where and when I can purchase these?
Sarah Louise Wood
saysAmazing looking product and heard of these jellies from my friend..would love to order some of these for my Mum. They look so juicy and fun x
Margaret
saysAre these available for purchase, my mom is 82 with Alzheimers and we have been looking for something like this to keep her hydrated.
Courtney
saysI would love for these to become available soon! I work with disabled adults (brain injury, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. We have such a hard time getting them to stay hydrated. These would be AMAZING in my residents home.
Crescans Master
saysGod bless you for inventing such edibles for the patients. Alzheimer's patients do need more food products like this as they are in complete denial for most normal food. Please make this a available as soon as possible. I love my mom.
Kristie Turner Signorello
saysAny update on when these might be available? My mom needs them now. (Late stage Alz)
Misty Massey
saysToo bad you can’t get this. She is 94 and I think I could get her to do this. Please make sugarfree for the Diabetics later down the road.
amy dean
saysyou could buy sweet moulds and make jelly shapes yourself
Meg
saysMy dad has a throat stoma that constantly leaks so he is chronically dehydrated. PLEASE HELP ME. HOW CAN I GET THESE?? Or get him into a trial? APRIL 2020.
Mary Singer
saysI would love my husband Norman to have some of these jellies what a brilliant idea
Linda Watson
saysIs there an update on the availability of these hydration jellys?
Corliss Johnson Patton
saysIt is my hope that Jelly Drops are marketed Sooner than Later this can actually save the lives of our loved ones...my mothers is a 81 year old dementia patient who flat out refuses to drink the fluids recommended to keep her hydrated her kidneys are in a crisis mode of failing if something such as Jelly Drops doesn't arrive and arrive soon
Jess
saysPlease get these in production Asap. I have been hearing about them for nearly 3years now and still waiting. I cant believe, there isnt anything already on the market. Such a massive part of keeping our loved ones healthy, so simple.
Jae Scarlett
saysCan’t wait to get these for my mom
She suffers severe dehydration and dementia