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.
Stephanie
saysSuperb idea - congratulations and well done
Charla Webb
saysI just tried to order but it said it’s only available in United Kingdom and I live in the United States of America. I really would like to order these!! I work with a lot of Dementia/Alzheimer Patients. I tried to find a phone number for you and couldn’t find one anywhere?? Please advise if I can order. Thx, Charla Webb 🙂👍🏻🙏🏻
Anonymous
saysHi Charla,
Thanks for getting in touch.
The Jelly Drops team are working hard towards shipping internationally, starting with Europe and the US, but they don't have a time frame to share yet.
According to their FAQs page (https://www.jellydrops.com/apps/help-center#!hc-international-shipping), in the meantime, they recommend signing up to their mailing list to be notified of updates regarding international shipping: https://www.jellydrops.com/pages/sign-up
We hope this helps.
-
Alzheimer's Society blog team
Anonymous
saysHi Charla,
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
Sharon Gilmour
saysMy Dad is constantly forgetting to drink and is dehydrated as a result. Is it possible to buy these or for him to be party to any trial?
Anonymous
saysHi Sharon, thanks for your comment.
The Jelly Drops are now available to buy, either as a one-off or subscription. You can find more details and order via the website: https://jellydrops.com/products/shop-jelly-drops
Hope this helps,
Alzheimer's Society blog team
Nancy Bexker
saysCan’t get them shipped to US. Are you working with Amazon or another distributor to get these in US? Would love to try them for my husband who doesn’t drink enough water and likes sweets. Dehydration makes his already low normal BP worse. Thank you.
Heather
saysI saw these jelly drops today when given to my brother who has Hepatic Encephalopathy with dementia type symptoms. His fluid intake his low and when he was given one of these jelly drops (Raspberry) today his face simply lit up and the sounds he made were of pure enjoyment. Seems like a great innovation. Good luck with getting them more widely available. UK
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.
Barbara Leggett.
saysI know my Husband will not drink water or very little . With that he constantly has constipation and it is not a good thing which i told the nurse today . I will have to mention these jelly sweets to them. Wether or not they will get them i don't know. I will have to try and get them myself.
Sarah
saysI've just bought some today on their site, jellydrops.com
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
Tatlyn hucey
saysHow can I make these jelly drops. I need the ingredients please.
My mom is 91 yrs old this year, and she is not
drinking a lot. Thanks
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