More than 55 million individuals throughout the world are currently coping with dementia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Dementia is a catch-all phrase that refers to a broad deterioration in cognitive function, where completion of everyday tasks is affected.
Some individuals experience emotional instability as well as personality changes. Even at its earliest stages, the disease starts to make it hard for a person to do even the simplest things. In its most severe stage, the affected person must rely on others to perform even the most basic daily duties.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Despite a wide variety of dementias, it’s responsible for up to 80% of all diagnoses.
Both forgetfulness and confusion are typical early signs of Alzheimer’s dementia. And they have a tendency to worsen as the disease progresses.
Worldwide, the incidence of dementia is on the rise, making it all the more important to spread awareness.
Positive associations, such as those created by dementia flowers and badges, give strength to those affected by dementia and recognize their existence. They also serve to remind families and those providing care that they are not alone in navigating this diagnosis.
Flowers, which bloom in the spring after the harshness of winter has passed, have long been regarded as a symbol of rebirth and optimism.
They are also seen as affectionate gifts when given on birthdays or anniversaries. They are also used as symbols of grief when they are sent to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Because of these emotional ties, the Alzheimer’s Association devised a one-of-a-kind color-coding system. This system assigns a particular hue to each type of flower based on the nature of the personal relationship with dementia.
These brightly colored dementia flowers convey a sense of hope to individuals who are affected by this degenerative illness. Each unique flower’s color acts as a symbol of resilience and conveys an individual’s perspective on their battle with the illness:
- Blue, for those who are now coping with Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia.
- Purple represents those who have lost a loved one due to dementia.
- Yellow, for the caregivers
- Orange, for everybody who thinks there will one day be a world without dementia.
- White represents optimism
Some people decide to devote their time to studying more about dementia by working toward the achievement of flower badges. Some contribute money to fund additional research in the hope that a cure will be discovered someday.
Continue reading to know more about the significance of various dementia flowers and badges. Also, we will discuss how these symbols assist organizations in their efforts to work toward a future free of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Flowers of Dementia: Their Colors And Meanings
When a loved one receives an unanticipated medical diagnosis, they search for signs and symbols of resilience.
Creating connections through actions and symbols, like wearing colored ribbons or dedicating a month to remembering, helps raise awareness and attention on essential issues.
A dementia flower acknowledges your commitment to the cause, whether you’re a caregiver, have lost a loved one to dementia, or are searching for a cure.
Participants in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease, may receive flowers to carry with them during the event. This is an annual event. The various hues of these flowers represent dementia. However, each of them has its own distinct meanings and associations.
1. Blue Flowers
A person who is currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia can be identified by their use of blue flowers.
Buttons that have been carefully crafted frequently depict basic blue flowers alongside phrases like “Be patient with me. I have dementia.”
People wearing these badges are reminded to be patient when interacting with elders who are experiencing cognitive deterioration.
2. Purple Flowers
Those who have suffered the loss of a loved one as a result of dementia are often memorialized with purple flowers.
For a very long time, the color purple has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease as well as other forms of dementia.
Purple is the official color of the American Alzheimer’s Association. It describes the color as combining “the tranquil steadiness of blue and the passionate fire of red.”
3. Yellow Flowers
Yellow flowers are a symbol of a person who provides care to others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for a loved one with dementia.
Caregivers for people with dementia provide intense help and devote considerable time. However, they also provide a high quality of care for their patients.
The yellow dementia flower can identify caregivers. It’s a symbol of their commitment to the people they care about, and they can wear it with pride.
4. Orange Flowers
Those who support the broader cause – the goal for a world without dementia — regardless of whether or not they have personal connections to dementia are represented by orange flowers.
5. White Flowers
White flowers are a relatively new addition to the color scheme for dementia and represent hope for potential treatment or cure.
During the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the organization introduced the white dementia flower to the world.
Researchers and scientists are always looking for new medicines that can stop or at least slow down the progression of dementia.
This white flower represents courage and hope for those living with dementia, their loved ones, and the people who care for them.
Badges For Dementia
1. Blue Flower Badge
The delicate blue flower is a forget-me-not and has long been associated with dementia as it represents remembrance.
Memory loss is one of the symptoms that may be present in patients who experience dementia. Because of this, the forget-me-not is the ideal flower to utilize as a symbol.
Anyone who wishes to work together against dementia, raise awareness, and help people who are affected by the condition should wear the blue flower pin as a symbol of their commitment to these goals.
There are a few variations of the forget-me-not emblem that are available. A thoughtful way to remember a family member or friend living with dementia is to cultivate your patch of forget-me-not flowers.
You can acquire packets of forget-me-not seeds either online or through a greenhouse in your neighborhood.
This well-known flower has evolved into a potent icon in recent years. It can be seen everywhere, from crochet patterns to individualized forget-me-not tattoos to honor loved ones.
2. Forget-Me-Not Pin Badge
The Alzheimer’s Society blue forget-me-not pin badge is available to anyone who would like to demonstrate their support. In addition, many groups use flower pins, ribbons, and other charity symbols.
The wearer of the forget-me-not badge may be doing so in support of a loved one who is experiencing dementia or simply to bring attention to the issue.
Don’t assume anything about the person who is wearing the pin. It’s a common myth that the badges will aid in the public identification of people with dementia. Clearing someone’s misconceptions could be helpful.
People living with dementia are at risk of being exploited and discriminated against when they go out in public. For example, this badge could put its wearer at risk if it is mistaken for one who has dementia.
3. Forget Me Not Appeal Badge
The Forget Me The Alzheimer’s Society initiated No Appeal in 2021.
This yearly campaign urges individuals to sport a Forget Me Not flower badge during the month of June. This is to bring attention to the plight of those who have dementia and generate donations for their support.
There is no correlation between donning the Forget Me Not Appeal badge and having dementia. Not only do people who support the Forget Me Not Appeal wear their badges to raise awareness of dementia.
But they also do it in remembrance of or as a tribute to a family member or friend impacted by the condition.
4. Dementia Friend Badge
The Alzheimer’s Society created the Dementia Friends program with one goal. Education and outreach aim to reorient people’s perspectives on dementia.
Watching a virtual educational session that educates viewers about dementia, its effects, and how to support persons with dementia in their communities is one of the requirements for becoming a Dementia Friend.
This session may be accessed here. After that, you will be given the flower badge that members of Dementia Friends are encouraged to wear with pride.
5. Help Cards
People who have dementia can receive support or assistance when they are out in the community by using help cards. These cards are straightforward to use.
In addition, persons who have dementia can have their personal information on these cards. So, they can seek help in the most beneficial manner and only from people they feel at ease being around.
Support For Caregivers Goes Beyond Symbols
Maintaining awareness of your mental and physical health when caring for a loved one who has dementia is essential. Explore the following resources to learn more about the various assistance options:
- Learn to recognize the warning signs of caregiver burnout to know when to seek assistance.
- In order to better plan for the future of a loved one, you should educate yourself about the stages of dementia.
- Getting involved with a caregiver support group might put you in touch with people who understand what you’re going through.
- Find out more about the option of hiring in-home help on a part-time or permanent basis so that you may relax and recharge while still being close to the person you care about.
- Talk to the advisors about the possibilities for memory care and respite care that might work for you.
To Wrap Up
Dementia is a condition that can affect anyone and it can be particularly difficult to recognize its early symptoms.
Therefore, it is essential to monitor any changes in abilities that may occur over the course of their life that may point to the presence of this condition.
It is a common misconception that the flowers and badges are meant to assist persons who the disease has impacted in publicly identifying themselves to others.
However, it may be good to inform someone who is uninformed of the situation if they are oblivious to it.
People affected may be subjected to discrimination and exploitation, which results in an elevated risk while in public.
If it is commonly believed that only those who have this ailment wear this badge, then the people who do so may be at a greater risk.
As a result, the The flowers and badges are the only methods to demonstrate our support for those battling this illness.
References
- https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/dementia-flowers
- https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/what-different-forget-me-not-badges-for-dementia
- https://wyldementia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/wyld-global-df-symbol_finalreport.pdf
- https://emoha.com/blogs/health/various-badges-for-dementia-and-their-meaning
- https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=walk_homepage
- https://rocketcharities.co.uk/fundraising-articles/every-action-counts-how-dementia-friends-raises-awareness-by-building-a-community-of-support-with-badges/
