By Thomas A Parmalee
Caring for older adults — especially those living with memory loss, dementia, or other cognitive challenges — often involves paying attention to some of their basic needs, such as eating, taking medicine, and resting.
Yet one need that’s surprisingly easy to overlook is hydration.
It’s not always obvious when someone is dehydrated, which can be life threatening – especially for individuals who forget to drink, struggle to swallow, or resist traditional fluids.
That’s where Jelly Drops come in — an idea born out of Lewis Hornby’s love for his grandmother.
When the London, England resident created his original recipe several years ago, his sights were set on helping his grandmother after she almost died from a lack of water.
He never envisioned a simple recipe he made in his kitchen would become the foundation for a finger snack that would be sold on multiple continents, making a huge difference in the lives of older people – and for their caregivers.
Several years later, however, Jelly Drops have helped over 100,000 customers and over 2 million Jelly Drops are eaten per month.
From Family Crisis to Purposeful Innovation
Hornby started working on Jelly Drops in 2018, inspired by a deeply personal experience.
His grandmother, “Granny Pat” — who had dementia — was hospitalized after becoming severely dehydrated. At first, caregivers thought she was dying.
But after receiving IV fluids, she returned to being responsive and happy. The contrast shocked Hornby.
“We were told to expect the worst; a day later, she was back,” he recalled.
That moment underscored just how dramatic the difference hydration (or lack of it) can make – and to this day, the memory remains jarring.
“She was completely unresponsive,” he said. “But after getting fluids, she was fine.”
At the time, Hornby was enrolled in a postgraduate design program; he also had an engineering background and had formerly co-founded Pluvo, a clean air technology company that still exists and continues to grow.
But caring for his grandmother — though he lived several hours away — took on a larger priority. Moreover, when he saw what a challenge it was for her to stay hydrated, he saw a problem that he could tackle as part of a graduation project.
So, he leveraged his final design-project window: six months to build something concrete. Rather than a medically framed “assistive device,” he aimed to solve the problem by giving his grandmother, who died in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a little joy.
He noticed that while many elderly or cognitively impaired people often declined drinks — or simply forgot — they frequently still had the reflex to eat. In group settings (for example, care homes), treats and finger foods remained popular.
“If I visited my grandmother in the care home with a box of chocolates, I was everyone’s best friend,” he said.
So, he came up with a thesis: Elderly people and those who have dementia would stay hydrated if they could ingest water as a snack.
Then, he got to creating … and testing.
Ultimately, he came up with what could only be described as jelly-like “drops.”
When he presented them to his grandmother, she ate several within minutes — something she rarely did with water or drinks, despite prompting. A video of the moment, posted as part of his design project, went viral — and brought an overwhelming outpouring of interest along with some angel investors.
That response convinced him: He was on the way to solving a widespread problem.
While he was only 23, he conducted research and connected with the right people to get a small factory up and running within 18 months to produce Jelly Drops in mass quantities.
What Are Jelly Drops — And Why They Matter
Jelly Drops are an innovative “water candy” designed to help people who struggle with hydration intake — especially seniors, people living with dementia, or those with other conditions that make drinking difficult.
While usually referred to as simply “Jelly Drops,” the full name is “Pattinson’s Jelly Drops,” which is an homage to Hornby’s grandmother, combing her first and last name: Pat Dickinson.
- Each drop is approximately 95% water.
- They are low-calorie, sugar-free, vegan, and gluten-free.
- The drops are enriched with electrolytes to aid absorption and hydration.
- Their solid yet smooth texture — more like a gummy or soft jelly than a liquid — allows for easy handling and independent consumption, even for individuals with limited dexterity.
- The bright colors, fruit-flavors and candy-like presentation are deliberately chosen to attract people who may resist drinking but are inclined to eat a treat.
Jelly Drops come in boxes of 21 or 42 packs. Each pack of nine drops delivers a 50 ml fluid boost, delivering a practical and crucially, enjoyable hydration supplement.
“Most people are not eating Jelly drops to get hydrated … they are just a nice, tasty snack,” Hornby explained.
In short: Jelly Drops provide hydration in a way that respects dignity, encourages independence and feels joyful rather than clinical.
They can also improve someone’s quality of life – as well as the experience of their caregivers, Hornby said.
“Dehydration can really exacerbate symptoms of dementia and make it look like it is getting worse,” he said. “It’s also very hard to measure someone’s hydration levels accurately.”
A Global Journey from Kitchen to Care Homes
Hornby spent roughly 18 months refining Jelly Drops — working with nutrition experts, designers and care professionals — before launching in the United Kingdom in 2020. The concept struck a chord.
The company’s early progress gained recognition: with support from Alzheimer’s Society (UK), Jelly Drops entered an Accelerator Programme — receiving funding and mentorship to help scale for people living with dementia.
By 2022, Jelly Drops expanded distribution to the United States — becoming available for caregivers, families, and care homes. Today, he sells almost as many Jelly Drops to customers in the United States as in the United Kingdom.
A year later – in 2023 – the company began serving customers in Canada, which accounts for about 10% of sales, he said. The company employs 12 people and has served thousands of families and care providers and is planning to eventually expand to serve other countries in Europe.
Why Jelly Drops Matter for Caregivers and Home-Care Professionals
For caregivers, home-care professionals, and family members supporting older adults or individuals with dementia, dehydration is often an under-recognized but serious risk. Memory problems may impair thirst perception; mobility issues or dysphagia may make drinking difficult; and even when offered water, many refuse or forget to drink water.
Jelly Drops represent a practical tool to help address these challenges:
- Facilitates independent hydration — Users can pick up and eat the drops themselves, without needing a cup or straw.
- Reduces caregiver burden and prompting — Rather than reminding someone to drink water repeatedly, caregivers can offer Jelly Drops as a snack.
- Normalizes hydration in a dignified way — Since the product resembles candy rather than a medical supplement, it avoids the stigma some clients associate with medical-grade hydration aids.
- Provides an engaging, enjoyable option — Taste, texture, and novelty encourage use, which may help sustain hydration habits over time.
Moreover, for care homes and agencies: the company offers a “champions program” — allowing professionals to trial Jelly Drops with clients free or at discounted rates to assess whether they’re a good fit.
Jelly Drops’ customer base encompasses a variety of groups, Hornby said.
“Many are people living with dementia, but the people buying the drops are generally relatives or family members,” he said “Most of our sales are direct to consumer.”
Increasingly, however, home care agencies are ordering the drops in larger numbers, he said.
“We wanted to create a stigma-free product for people living with dementia and other cognitive challenges that can make staying hydrated a challenge,” Hornby said. “Jelly Drops were designed for dementia, but there are a host of reasons why someone may need support with hydration, including people with Parkinson’s disease, autistic people, people with learning disabilities or people recovering from illness.”
Important Considerations & Recommendations for Use
While Jelly Drops offer promising benefits, there are practical and clinical considerations caregivers should keep in mind:
- They are not recommended for individuals with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia); caregivers should consult a speech and language therapist before using them in such cases.
- Because they are concentrated hydration supplements, Jelly Drops should augment — NOT replace — regular fluid intake and other nutrition.
- As with any new product, it’s wise to monitor how individuals respond (e.g., swallowing, appetite, gastrointestinal tolerance), especially when electrolytes or sweeteners may affect sensitive individuals.
- Use them as part of a holistic hydration and nutrition plan, including regular offering of drinks, nutrient-dense foods, and assistance or reminders tailored to each person’s needs.
Home care professionals should give Jelly Drops a try to see for themselves the difference it can make in the lives of clients, Hornby said.
“The key is it is an engaging, small finger food,” he said. “You can pick at it – and you don’t need utensils, which can hamper people’s engagement with the product. It suits people.”
A Simple Innovation, But a Meaningful Impact
The story of Jelly Drops illustrates how an everyday challenge — hydration — can be reinterpreted through empathy, design, and a caregiver’s perspective. What began as one grandson’s desire to help his grandmother evolved into a tangible solution being used by thousands of families and care providers worldwide.
For home-care professionals, family caregivers, and care home staff, Jelly Drops offers a thoughtful, user-centered tool: one that respects dignity, encourages independence, and makes hydration a little easier — even joyful.
