It’s the end of August and it’s almost Labor Day weekend. Many of us celebrate the holiday with barbecues, pool parties, and picnics in the park, enjoying the last hurrah of 90-degree weather. Unfortunately, for people with dementia, the warmer weather can cause discomfort, dehydration, and distress.

Dehydration and Dementia

Dehydration is a common challenge for older people, especially those with dementia. Here’s why:

• Memory problems often make it easy to forget to drink enough water;
• For many with dementia, the part of the brain that recognizes you’re dehydrated and sends a message to let you know you’re thirsty doesn’t always work properly;
• Some medications and dementia-related illnesses can also make dehydration worse;
• Dementia patients may forget where to find water, even if there’s a cup of it on the nightstand, inches away from them;
• Dementia patients may no longer find water palatable and forget that it is necessary, since they might not feel thirsty;
• Still others may even forget how to drink water or how to swallow. Dementia patients who suffer from dysphagia—a swallowing difficulty—often have a hard time swallowing thin liquids and require thickening agents to help them get the hydration they need.

Jelly Drops to Keep Seniors Hydrated

A young British man named Lewis Hornby noticed that his grandmother, who suffers from dementia, was not getting enough fluids to drink. He decided to invent something that would make it easier for her to get the fluids she needs. What Hornby came up with were Jelly Drops—brightly colored bite-sized balls of liquid that are easier to swallow than water but just as hydrating. The drops are made of 90% water with gelling agents and electrolytes to aid in hydration.

Read on to learn more about Jelly Drops (edible water), how to know if a loved one is dehydrated, and how to stay proactive about hydration.