Dementia Support Line
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What do the different badges for dementia mean?
Following some confusion over what different blue flower badges represent, here we tackle some common myths about their meaning, who can wear blue flower badges and why.
What does the blue flower badge represent?
The flower is a forget-me-not, a small blue flower that represents remembrance and is long-associated with dementia.
People with dementia may experience memory loss, among other symptoms. This makes the forget-me-not the perfect flower to represent our cause.
The blue flower pin is a symbol for anyone who wants to raise awareness of dementia and support people affected by the condition.
Alzheimer's Society forget-me-not flower pin badges are available in our shop. 100 per cent of our shop profits go towards helping fight dementia.
Why do people wear a forget-me-not pin badge?
Anyone can wear our blue forget-me-not pin badge to show their support for Alzheimer’s Society. Many organisations have flowers, ribbons and other symbols to represent their charity.
A person might wear a forget-me-not badge because a family member or loved one has dementia, or they want to help raise awareness.
It’s best not to make assumptions about why someone might be wearing the pin.
What is the Forget me not Appeal badge?
In 2021, Alzheimer's Society launched the Forget me not Appeal.
This is an annual initiative that encourages people to wear a forget-me-not flower badge for the month of May to raise awareness and vital funds for people affected by dementia.
In May, we ask everyone to join together and support the Forget me not Appeal to raise awareness and money for everyone living with dementia.
Wearing the Forget me not Appeal badge does not mean the wearer has dementia. Supporters of the Forget me not Appeal wear their badge not only to promote awareness of dementia but also in memory of or in tribute to a loved one affected by the condition.
Donate online to the Forget me not Appeal and receive a badge in the post (while stocks last).
If you have any questions about your donation or Forget me not Appeal badge, please call our Supporter Care line on 0330 333 0804.
Is it true that wearing a forget-me-not pin badge means you have dementia?
No, that is not true.
The forget-me-not badge is for anyone to wear to show their support for people affected dementia.
It is a common misconception that the badges are to help identify people living with dementia in public.
If someone is misinformed, it might be helpful to make them aware of this.
People living with dementia can sometimes face stigma and exploitation, which may put them at risk when out in public. If there’s the misconception that only people with dementia wear this badge, this could increase the risk of making them vulnerable.
If a person with dementia wants a discreet way to let others know about their diagnosis while out and about, we have free helpcards available.
Helpcards are an easy way for people with dementia to get help or assistance when out in the community. Personal information can also be added to them, so that people with dementia can get help in the best way for them, and only from people they feel safe around.
What does the Dementia Friend badge mean?
Dementia Friends is a social movement committed to changing how people see dementia.
A Dementia Friend is somebody that learns about dementia so they can help their community. They may choose to wear the badge so they can show support for the movement, or to help others who may need it.
Many Dementia Friends choose to receive and wear their pin badge.
These pin badges aren’t available to buy. Instead, you have the option to receive a badge once you become a Dementia Friend either by attending an Information Session in your community or by joining online. You can become a Dementia Friend here.
Share your badge
Do you have a badge like one of these? Send us a photo of you wearing it with the hashtag #ForgetMeNotBadge and tell us why you wear yours
H .lowe
saysAnonymous
saysFirstly, thank you for making a donation.
Depending on the type of donation you made, the badges are typically sent out 2 days afterwards and can take up to 10 working days, not including the bank holidays.
For further help, please call our Supporter Care line on 0330 333 0804. More details on our Supporter Care line (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/contact-us
Thank you again for your support.
Alzheimer's web team
Sandra
saysMichaela
says
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Michaela, thank you for your comment. We're sorry to hear you haven't received your badge yet.
If you donated via text, on the back of a TV ad, you will usually receive a phone call. 4 attempts will be made in total and, if there is no answer, a form is then usually sent for you to fill out to receive your badge.
For a standard text, you should have received a text bounce back with a link to where you can fill in the form. If you haven't yet filled in a form to claim the badge, you can find the form online here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/form/order-forget-me-not-appeal-badge
If contact has already been made, then the badges are usually sent out 2 days after the donation was made and can take up to 10 working days, not including the bank holidays. Please take in to consideration postal delays.
Alternatively, for further help, you can call our Supporter Care line on 0330 333 0804. More details on our Supporter Care line for fundraising and general enquiries (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/contact-us
We hope this helps for now Michaela, and that your badge arrives soon.
Alzheimer's Society web team
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Michaela, thank you very much for your donation and your question.
Depending on the type of text donation you made, the badges are typically sent out 2 days afterwards and can take up to 10 working days, not including the bank holidays. Please also take in to consideration postal delays.
For further help, please call our Supporter Care line on 0330 333 0804. More details on our Supporter Care line (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/contact-us
We hope this helps for now, Michaela. Thank you again for your support.
Alzheimer's web team
Claire
says
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Claire, thank you for your comment and your interest in our forget me not pin badges. You can find our branded badges in our online shop here: https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk/collections/branded-merchandise
If you click on the option in the shop that you would prefer, you will then be able to increase the quantity - including for the x10 pin badges packs eg you could increase the size of your bulk order by choosing (for example) 3 as the quantity. This would mean you'd get 3 packs of badges (each containing x10 badges) and 30 badges overall. Unfortunately we don't currently have any larger individual packs on sale.
We hope this helps for now and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
Alzheimer's Society web team
Mac Cox
saysSandra Pennells
says
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Sandra, thank you for your question. You can find our available branded products in our online shop here: https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk/collections/branded-merchandise
There is a Memory Walk tag and pin badge currently on sale: https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk/products/memory-walk-tag-and-pin-badge?variant=42367172083866
You may also be interested in our Forget Me Not Appeal, where we have the latest version of our Forget Me Not badge, but we're not sure if this is the one you are searching for: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/forget-me-not-appeal/get-your-badge
We hope this helps for now, Sandra.
Alzheimer's Society web team
Junie
saysHarry Bram
saysRonald Simpson
saysSylvia tatham
saysJanet Dent
saysI am looking forward to the support and reports which are interesting and it has made me feel more relaxed. Many thanks in advance for the information and relaxation which I am hoping to enjoy in future - much appreciated in advance.
Martin Corrick
saysI have been reading the comments about dementia badges, and it seems to me that people with dementia should be able to choose to wear a badge if we want to.
I have had dementia for five years and am quite happy to be identified by a badge - in fact it would help shop staff to know that I might leave my wallet on the counter, or walk out without paying!
Sarah Williams
saysMartin..I hope you do not mind me writing to you,but I am so glad that you also wear a badge.I look at them as a badge of happiness and not something that defines us..Yes it alerts others that we need assistance sometimes,but it also makes us very special people too.It proves we are fighting something that some people find hard to understand.Take care martin.
Miss donna taylor
saysI think this is a brilliant idea not only that dementia can be confusing for some people and their families support is the most important thing for people suffering with dementia its a brilliant organisation and I will be making a donation not now but later on my mum suffer from dementia later on in her life its very hard and can be very overwhelming at times I hope their is a cure for dementia and ongoing research helps to those families their positive things you can to to help so I will continue to read information on this website which I great
Sarah Williams
saysMy mum has this awful illness too..and so did my dad. It has turned my mum into someone who will remember me one day and forget who I am the next.I just wish there was more we could learn about how this illness progresses and if there is anyway to slow it's progress and then we could hold on to our loved ones for a bit longer, I am going through it with a loved one for a 2nd time ..but dad's dementia was nothing like my mums and that is what makes it so complex.
Harbir Singh
saysSarah .. sorry must be hard for the family .
Just confirmed today that my wife has the onset .
All my children went to the Charing Cross Hospital to hear the consultants.
I hear Galantamine helps ! Some from Daffodils !Hooe things get better..🙏
Sarah Williams
saysHarbir..Thank you so much for reaching out and for your suggestions about Galantamine..Next time we have an appointment I will ask about this..I am so sorry to hear that you will be on this journey now. I hope you will have the support and help that you will need,We are all here for each other,so please just reach out if and when you need to..take care and best wishes to all of your family.
Gordon Day
saysHello All. Do you do stickers for cars at all ?, if so where can l purchase a couple please.
Haydn Edwards
saysThey are commonly known as Decals. There are many companies that produce them. It might be worth checking with them, as Alzheimer's is not the only organisation that uses the 'forget me not'. I wear it for both institutions.
Wendy
saysAnonymous
saysWe're sorry for your loss, Wendy. Please know that we're here if you need us and you can give our support line a call on 0333 150 3456.
If you'd like your own Forget Me Not badge, please consider supporting our Forget Me Not Appeal. When you donate, you will receive a badge in the post to wear in honour of someone affected by dementia.
You can find out more about the Appeal and how to get involved here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/forget-me-not-appeal
Alzheimer's Society website team
Becca
saysWould I be allowed to include the image of the three examples of pins in my blog post detailing how venues can be more dementia friendly? I would of course link back to this post for you.
Hi Becca,
Thanks for this - that image is fine to include.
All the best,
Alzheimer's Society website team
Pascal McNamara
saysPlease I need forget me not badges
Hi Pascal, thanks for your comment.
Our usual forget-me-not badges are available in our shop, here: https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk/branded-merchandise/Forget-me-not-brooch
We also have badges for our forget-me-not appeal, which you can find here:
https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk/branded-products/branded-merchandise/For…
Hope this helps,
Alzheimer's Society blog team