Introduction

Eating sweets to promote hydration? It sounds like an absurd and comical idea. But it was the brainchild of a British student who won no fewer than five national and international awards, including the World Innovation Forum prize. His invention, the “Jelly drops“, represents a breakthrough in the field of geriatrics, particularly in the care of elderly people suffering from dementia.

Background and creation

It all began in 2018 with a grandmother who was mad about confectionery, felt less thirsty because of her age, refused to drink and had difficulty recognising objects such as glasses or cups because of her dementia. This led to severe dehydration, which eventually resulted in her grandson, Lewis Hornby, staying in her nursing home. This gave rise to the idea and then the development of prototypes of ‘sweets’ that hydrate.

Hornby had his grandmother try them out, and she swallowed 7 of them in 10 minutes – almost the equivalent of a glass of water. The scene was filmed and broadcast. As a result, he obtained support for his project. He worked with doctors and psychologists among patients suffering from dementia and, two years later, “Jelly drops” were put on the market. Sadly, this coincided with the death of the creator’s grandmother and muse.

Presentation

Jelly drops are fruity ‘sweets’ with no added sugar, made with 95% water to help hydrate the elderly in general and those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias in particular.

They are similar to the jelly water used for hospital patients suffering from swallowing disorders. However, they are better tolerated because they have a more attractive taste and presentation. They are sold in trays costing €24 to €7, i.e. around CFAF 5,000.

Jelly drops do not explode in the mouth, because they are solid, and melt slowly, releasing 12.5 ml of water and electrolytes into the body per unit sucked. The intake from a tray represents just under a quarter of the daily water requirements supposed to be provided by the drink for an average adult. This may not seem like much, but jelly drops are still a fun and fairly effective solution, not for covering nutritional water requirements, but for preventing dehydration.

Perspectives

Jelly drops have made a name for themselves in the field of geriatrics and are continuing to make advances. In recent years, their composition has been reviewed with the introduction of multivitamin complexes to stimulate the immune system. 

In the same vein, the development of food supplements with this playful spirit could be of use to undernourished people suffering from teething problems, impaired taste or swallowing and digestion problems.

Applying the concept to paediatrics and psychiatry would also help to improve patient compliance with treatment.

Conclusion

 Jelly drops were born out of a desire to protect a loved one. This desire to help led to the search for solutions to remedy a need, and finally to an innovative design. Over and above their contribution in terms of preventive medicine, these sweets prove that you can have an impact on an entire community by showing observation and love.