Dementia Support Line
Jelly Drops 'water sweets' help to boost daily water intake
Alzheimer’s Society has supported the development of Jelly Drops, award-winning bite-sized sweets designed to increase your water intake. Jelly Drops have been helping people with dementia with an easy and tasty way to support their hydration independently.
What are Jelly Drops?
Jelly Drops are bite-sized, sugar-free sweets containing 95 per cent water and added electrolytes.
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 Jelly Drops 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.
What's new from the Jelly Drops team?
Following further research and development, the team have recently launched new Jelly Drops Snackpots. These are an alternative version of the popular sweet's Original Tray.
Snackpots are cheaper, easier to hold, use 50 per cent less packaging and have an enhanced flavour.
Jelly Drops are solid but with a smooth texture - they don’t have a liquid centre or pop when eaten.
'It’s wonderful to see how the Jelly Drops team have continued to improve their offering, helping people living with dementia stay hydrated', said Colin Capper, Associate Director of Evidence and Participation at Alzheimer's Society.
‘Snackpots make Jelly Drops more affordable, eco-friendly and accessible, which will hopefully help to reach even more people in the future.'
Watch a 35-second video about Jelly Drops
How Jelly Drops have helped people during coronavirus
During the pandemic, the Jelly Drops team have worked even harder to make their water sweets available to the most vulnerable people in our society.
People living in care homes have been a primary concern for the Jelly Drops team during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Jelly Drops team also helped to cater to a small number of NHS coronavirus hospital wards, not just for the patients but also for the NHS staff. Members of staff found that the long shifts and personal protective equipment (PPE) often left them feeling dehydrated.
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.
The Jelly Drops team.
How can I get some Jelly Drops?
There has been a huge demand for Jelly Drops since they were first introduced to the public in June 2019. The Jelly Drops team have been building up large scale production as fast as they can, and as of April 2022 they have launched in the USA.
You can now order Jelly Drops online, either as a one-off purchase or subscription. To get hold of your own Jelly Drops, visit the Jelly Drops website today.
Order Jelly Drops today
You can buy Jelly Drops Trays or Snackpots through their website, or get a free trial when you start a discounted subscription.
This article was first published on 14 June 2019 and last updated on 26 April 2022.
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.