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.
Nusrat Rahman
sayshi sounds like a great idea, would like to know like others if they are suitable for diabetic diet and also if they are suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
Carlie
saysThis is awesome! Something definitely needed. I would also love these as I am dehydrated from cancer and my surgeries. I can no longer digest or absorb. Can’t wait to be able to buy these. This is a wonderful idea!!!
Pammi
saysI would love my mum to trial the Jelly Drops, de-hydration is crippling her mentally on a daily basis :(
Paula Jackson
saysWish these were out now. Am from New Zealand and the dementia home I work in has currently got a few cases of residents who are, or have been unwell with the flu and not eating and drinking well as a result. These would have been a God send we try to encourage them to have plenty of fluids but most often say no but will take a lolly when offered. Will be watching out for these in the future
Maureen Bowman
saysI think they are a fantastic idea, my mum had dementia and we had real trouble getting her to drink and she was constantly dehydrated. I’m sure she would have loved these as she did have a sweet tooth. Good luck with your amazing idea
Clare Sheard
saysI agree with all the above re size, content and need for healthy ingredients.When will they be on the market? Please make the price feasible for a weekly 'treat'. If you are still in need of marketing volunteers, I can offer our group to help.
Louise
saysFantastic idea. My Mum is constantly dehydrated but loves sweets. At 90 years old I’m not going to stop her having a sweet treat if that’s what makes her happy!
Allyson Green
saysWhat a fantastic well thought out idea
Margaret Park
saysA lovely idea BUT ........we have to be careful , exactly as the few comments mentioned by DR'S, dentist's,& Health experts. We have to be careful who we give these sweets etc to, too much sugar /fat,
should not be allowed, which is in some sweets , not milk chocolate only dark chocolate etc. what a lovely thought from the chap who was thinking about our lovely older friends. Fingers crossed he will come up with the right recipe, Margaret Park best wishes..
Theresa
saysMy colleagues tried these at this year's 'expo' at the NEC - they were apparently fantastic!
carole boyle
saysI am a dentist who treats people with Dementia - its is not clear if this product contains sugar?
If it does it should not be given to people with teeth, The caries (decay) risk is just too high.
Jessica
saysI agree. I keep seeing these pop up on Facebook. I am a dental assistant. I was very concerned about the "sweets" and the sugar content. People in senior care home have HUGE problems with tooth decay and tooth care never mind providing sweet candies for them. I really was hoping to read that they have no sugar but I keep seeing "sweets" and "candies" associated with this product. On the plus side...hydration may help with dry mouth and gum disease? Not sure exactly how these things work but if they contain sugar..PLEASE think of their teeth and quality of life. Most people in these types of places cannot even brush their teeth or grip a toothbrush and no one provides tooth care for them. It is one if the major issues brought up at dental conventions...care homes should have more access to dental care.
Debra Dougall
saysSeriously? These sweets are being given to people who have far more pressing problems than theyr teeth. At their age, I would think that the side-effects of a few sugary sweets are far less serious than those caused by the dehydration; the problem the sweets are intended to address.
Liz Anderson
saysI would say that the risk of acute kidney injury following lack of adequate hydration, coupled with the risk of urinary tract infection far out does the risk of dental caries. There are ways of caring for the mouths of patients with dementia. It is a risk v benefit situation and surely it is far better to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions with the distress that this brings than the possibility of the person needing a filling?
Jan
saysIt is not just a case of the person possibly needing a filling, the risk is that the sugar causes decay/ root caries in a person whose oral mouth care is probably not well looked after, if they have a dry mouth due to medication and dehydrated the sugar will decay the teeth even quicker. The person is then highly likely to need a general anaesthetic to extract teeth. The GA poses a risk of worsening the dementia or even death in a frail older person.
As an oral health promoter we suggest keeping a spray bottle with fresh cool water at hand to hydrate the mouth.
Sue Muller
saysLiz Anderson. ..my thoughts exactly. And I am a qualified dental nurse now working as a carer.
Jennifer
saysI understand about the decay, but when someone is in this stage of dementia where they're not getting enough hydration, teeth are the last thing on the caretaker's mind as they are trying to save their life. Most people in the latter stages of this awful disease no longer know how to swallow; their teeth really don't matter anymore.
Patti
saysI keep seeing all the people worried about the sugar content in these jellies. As an Alzheimer’s nurse for the last several years, sugar should be the least thing you worry about. When an Alzheimer’s patient has to be hospitalized for dehydration (or any reason,really), it takes their whole “being” down and they never really regain that lost time.
Lynette Anear
saysGreat idea but as an oral health promoter I am also hoping they are sugar free. People with dementia do not always remember to brush their teeth, and later into the disease, are resistant to carers helping with tooth brushing. This may have a detrimental effect on their health as the oral bacteria is breathed in and also travels around the body in the blood.
Jane
saysHi Lynette I was going to post the same especially as more people are dentate that are living with Dementia. Fingers crossed they will be sugar free!
Olivia Pierre
saysGreat idea That will good for my mom
Janet Hagan
saysI cannot wait to see the progress of Jelly Drops they will be so invaluable to those who need redydration
Angela Killip
saysA wonderful idea but I am curious how the development and marketing of these will be controlled to ensure they are safe for or are not given to somebody with a swallowing difficulty who requires texture modified fluids or diet. The risk being aspiration pneumonia. I will be very interested to see how this product develops. I wish you every success in its development.