In praise of jelly drops

Mixture

New member
Aug 23, 2020
2
0
I have already posted my thoughts that hospitals are bad for people with dementia and that changes are needed allowing essential carers to stay and support their loved one.
This message is concerning the the treatment of dehydration and the blind faith that hospitals have that their medical practice is the only choice. My 87 year young partner has dementia, she fell and damaged her hip and was taken to hospital and given the prognosis of 6 weeks bed rest.
Communication and understanding by dementia patients is not good and she hated having things stuck on her and stuck in her and she wasn't eating or drinking properly. The standard hospital procedure for dehydration is to treat it with a drip but she pulled out catheters and peeled off patches. After about 4 weeks we were advised that there was nothing that they could do and that she may not last for long.
I had been told about Jelly Drops by a carer and had looked up their web site but decided that they were an expensive way of giving water. Out of desperation I bought a pack of jelly drops and consulted a nurse who was concerned about choking. I cut them into 8 pieces which she ate and after 2 she asked for a drink and drank a full beaker, ate her lunch and ate another jelly.
The nurses continued to use them and after breakfast she spoke to a nurse for the first time in weeks, which she registered and the ward sister couldn't believe the change.
I bitched the system and nurses were grateful that I assisted with feeding, she is now discharged to a nursing home.
I am aware that nurses are understaffed and do not have time and that hospitals and doctors have well established procedures but there are alternatives and the care of dementia patients in hospitals needs to change.
I have no commercial interest in Jelly Drops, and am purely a customer, but I am full of praise for their development and effectiveness.
 

nae sporran

Registered User
Oct 29, 2014
9,213
0
Bristol
My partner was resisting drips for a while, so I know how stressful that can be @Mixture. She was not so keen on the jelly drops, which were recommended to me on this forum. Good to see they worked a treat for your partner and she is now recovering.
 

canary

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
25,018
0
South coast
I remember the Jelly Drops. The student inventor came on here and posted some info about them including a couple of videos and asked us what we thought. I was so glad that they went into production, although you do have to be careful about possible chocking.
Heres a link to his original product and videos, if you are interested (do ignore the ads, though - they are not helpful)
 

Jaded'n'faded

Registered User
Jan 23, 2019
5,259
0
High Peak
It's always really good to hear of a simple idea that actually works.

If given the choice of an IV or jellies, who would choose the IV? :)

Not always a solution I appreciate but brilliant when it works.
 

GillP

Registered User
Aug 11, 2021
3,855
0
My husband loved them last summer but by the autumn he wouldn’t have them. They are expensive but while it worked was worth it.