Dementia Support Line
Research
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 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.
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.
Currently, Jelly Drops are only recommended to people without swallowing difficulties. If you have swallowing difficulties, please consult a Speech and Language Therapist prior to use.
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."
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.
Rachel Jayne Bevan
saysGreat idea! Love it😊
Carol fildes
saysFantastic idea I work for a charity tackling loneliness working with some people who have dementia and their families so would like to keep updated
Mandy Stoner
saysWhat a fantastic idea, my relatives would have benefited from these.
Thank you
Glory Oliveras
saysI love this initiative. I would like to know when they will be available and if I can get them, I am from Puerto Rico. Thanks to the people who have supported this.
Glory Oliveras
sayslove this idea. I would like to know when they will be available and if I can find them where I live, in Puerto Rico. Thank you
Barbara
saysFantastic idea. My husband has early vascular dementia& has a very sweet tooth! Can’t wait to get these for him.
Marcia Evans
saysWill these jelly sweets be ok for diabetics who suffer with dementia. Be fantastic if they will.
Fran
saysPlease let us know when they are available. My father really needs these
Karen Thompson
saysCannot wait for these to be released. Hard to get my mum to drink but never refuses sweet things :)
Donna Lowers
saysI'd let my husband trial them if you need volunteers.
Victor T Radford
saysWhen and where can these Jelly Drops be purchased when they come to market
jade
sayssounds good. Do they contain any sugar? How long do they take to be dissolved in the mouth and swallowed? - Senior dental nurse
Linda
saysWhat a fab idea. They would have been great for my mum
Well done
Alzheimer's Society Research team
saysThank you to everyone who has taken the time to share your queries and concerns about Jelly Drops. We are really excited to be supporting the Jelly Drops team to bring their product to people affected by dementia, and your comments are invaluable.
Over the next year, we will be working with the team to make sure these types of concerns, such as sugar levels and swallowing risks, are taken into account. We will ensure people affected by dementia are involved in the development of the product. We’ll keep you updated with the all the latest developments.
Thanks again, everyone.
Holly
saysNice idea, but I really hope the needs of people with dementia who experience dysphagia are considered. Alongside swallowing difficulties, many people with dysphagia forget food in their mouths while eating - these sizable (and it appears sticky) sweeties could pose a real risk if given to the wrong client.
Laraine Parmenter
saysTotally agree.