New 'jelly drops' help dementia patients stay hydrated at Mansfield care home

The colourful, tear-drop shaped jelly sweets tackle the issue of dehydration.

Langwith Lodge residential home in Nether Langwith, near Mansfield, has begun offering ‘Jelly Drops’, an invention championed by the Alzheimer’s Society’s Accelerator Programme.

These colourful, tear-drop shaped jelly sweets tackle the issue of dehydration, which isn’t so simple for those living with dementia.

Memory loss associated with dementia can lead to people forgetting to drink enough, or not realise that they’re thirsty at all.

Victoria Weller, managing director of Your Health Limited, which owns the care home, said: “We’re so pleased to have found ‘Jelly Drops’, particularly as the warmer summer months arrive.

"We’re always looking for new and better ways to keep the home’s residents hydrated, and the drops present such a novel way of doing just that.

"It can be difficult to encourage people to drink enough, and we wanted to improve hydration levels, which in turn can also reduce the frequency of falls, infections and improves overall health.

"Our home is dedicated to ensuring there is plenty to drink.

"We have hydration stations with lots of hydration options, plus activities such as homemade mocktails to encourage drinking more.

"Our homes also have lots of fruit on their menus, and ice lollies are available throughout the day in hotter weather.

"This all helps immensely.

"The ‘Jelly Drops’ are something else we can now use as a novel way to keep fluid levels up.”

Zoe Searston is the manager at Langwith Lodge Residential Home, which provides support to the elderly and vulnerable, and people living with varying stages of dementia.

She said: “After trying ‘Jelly Drops’, all of our residents agreed that they’re a really effective idea.

"They certainly are refreshing. One gentleman, Fred, said that they exploded with flavour in his mouth, and everyone was attracted to the fun, colourful shapes.

"It can be difficult to encourage people with dementia to drink regularly, but this novel idea will help them to hydrate independently.”