Not every disability shows. Doctors and advocates call these hidden disabilities. A person with dementia may look fine in a checkout line. Then they freeze when asked for their phone number. A person with hearing loss may seem rude for not answering. In moments like these, a small card or a wristband can do the talking. It tells others, “I may need more time.” No long explanation needed.

These tools come in a few forms. Some are worn, like a lanyard or a wristband. Others are cards that a person, or their care partner, hands to a cashier, a server, or a security officer. Each one has a different job. Knowing the difference helps older adults and care partners pick the right tool.

What is the Sunflower lanyard?

The best-known symbol is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. It is a yellow sunflower on a green background, worn as a lanyard, wristband, or pin. It works for many conditions, including dementia, hearing loss, low vision, and anxiety.

The Sunflower is for many kinds of hidden disabilities. Airports that use it list dementia, hearing loss, low vision, autism, and anxiety, among others. The person wearing it does not have to say what their condition is. You do not need to share details to get one.

Many places give them out for free. Airlines and airports that are members hand them out at no cost. In Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has them at its information desk, before security. Anyone who asks gets one. No questions asked.

The Sunflower is a signal, not a pass. Wearing it does not let you move ahead of others in line. You still need to tell your airline if you need a wheelchair or other help.

Dementia help cards

Many care partners carry a small card made for dementia. It is often the size of a business card. The care partner hands it to a server, a front desk worker, or a cashier when things get tense.

The words are short and kind. One card made by a Washington state care partner reads, “My companion has memory problems. Please be patient.” San Diego County offers a free card to print and cut out. It says, “My companion is living with dementia,” with tips inside.

The card saves the care partner from explaining out loud in front of everyone. They can hand over the card with a smile or a nod. That protects the dignity of the person with dementia. No one talks about them as if they are not there.

Some cards are made for the person with dementia to carry. They may list a name, the help they need, and an emergency contact. The person can keep the card in a pocket or wallet and decide when to show it.

The TSA Notification Card

Airport security can be one of the hardest parts of a trip. TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, has its own free card for this.

The card lets you tell officers about a health condition or medical device that could affect screening. You can download and print it for free from the TSA website. There is a space to write in the condition. The card also says screening can be done in private if needed. It does not let anyone skip screening.

TSA also runs a free helpline called TSA Cares. The number is 1-855-787-2227. Call 72 hours before your trip to ask for a Passenger Support Specialist at the checkpoint. If none is free, you can ask for a supervisor.

For a person with dementia, this can make security calmer. A care partner can hand over the card, then stay close and help answer questions.

Medical ID bracelets

A Sunflower or a help card asks for patience. A medical ID bracelet does something else. It helps others reach the right family member if the person gets lost or has an emergency.

This matters for dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that 6 out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease will wander. It can happen even early on. Planning ahead is a calm, practical step.

The Alzheimer’s Association works with the MedicAlert Foundation on a plan called 24/7 Wandering Support. It helps people with dementia who wander or have a medical emergency. If someone finds a person who is lost, they can call the number on the person’s ID. That helps reach their family. You can choose a bracelet, a necklace, or another style.

Cost can be a factor. Some local police departments have teamed up with MedicAlert to offer free bracelets and support. It is worth asking your local police department or Area Agency on Aging.

How do QR code disability cards work?

Some newer cards go a step further. They link to a short page that explains what the person needs.

The Sunflower offers one called Sunflower Extra. A person can share their support needs by tapping the card on a phone with NFC (near-field communication) or by scanning a QR code. NFC is the same tap technology used to pay at a store. No extra app is needed. If a phone cannot tap, the QR code works with the phone’s camera and opens the same page.

This puts the user in control. The person, or their care partner, sets up the page ahead of time. They decide what to share. It might say, “I may repeat myself. Please speak slowly and give me time to answer.” After a tap, the page stays open for 5 minutes. If the card is lost, the owner can log in and freeze it.

QR codes also show up on dementia tip cards. These cards teach the person who gets them how to help. One card from a dementia group in Canada shares tips like these: come from the front, make eye contact, find a quiet spot, and say 1 thing at a time. It has a QR code that links to a short video.

A few things to keep in mind:

• The person getting the card needs a phone. A busy cashier may not stop to scan. Print the most important line right on the card, so it works without a scan.
• Keep the page short. A few clear lines work better than a full medical history.
• Share only what helps in the moment. The page is about how to help, not a diagnosis. Leave out details the person would not want a stranger to see.

QR codes are everywhere now, and some people are careful about scanning ones they do not know. Our article on [AI voice-cloning scams] has tips for staying safe online.

What these tools can and cannot do

These tools help, but they have limits.

• No proof is needed. You do not have to prove a disability to get a Sunflower. That keeps things private, but the symbol depends on trust.
• Not everyone knows the symbol. Staff at member places are often trained. A stranger on the street may not know what a sunflower means.
• They are not a fast pass. Sunflower wearers do not get faster service at check-in or security.
• They do not replace asking for help. For air travel, still contact your airline and TSA Cares.
• Buy from the right place. The Sunflower group has spoken out about fake products and resellers who charge too much. Get items from a member place or the official Sunflower store.

Tips for care partners

• Let the person choose. Ask your loved one if they want to wear or carry a card. Some people find it freeing. Others feel it labels them. Their choice matters.
• Pick words you both like. “My companion has memory problems” feels different from “I have dementia.” Choose what feels right.
• Keep it handy. A card buried in a bag will not help at the register. A clip, a lanyard, or a front pocket works better.
• Use more than 1 tool. A Sunflower wristband, a help card, and a medical ID can work together. Each one covers a different moment.
• Keep contacts current. Check the emergency number on every card and ID a few times a year.

If someone hands you a card

You may be the person on the other side of the counter. A few small steps help a lot:

• Do not ask what their disability is. The card already told you what you need to know.
• Slow down. Give the person time to answer.
• Face them and make eye contact. Speak clearly, and share 1 idea at a time.
• Talk to the person, not about them. Include them, and do not talk about them as if they are not there.
• Offer a quieter spot if the space is loud or busy.

---

Sources

• Hidden Disabilities card (Science Museum Group)
• Sunflower Lanyard Program (San José Airport)
• Sunflower Program (Akron-Canton Airport)
• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program (Detroit Metro Airport)
• MKE Introduces Sunflower Lanyard Program (Airport X News)
• Introducing Sunflower Extra (Hidden Disabilities Sunflower)
• “Purple Card” System Would Help People With Dementia (InvestigateWest)
• The Power of a Simple Card (St. Paul Elder Services)
• Dementia Communication Card (San Diego County)
• TSA Disability Notification Card (TSA)
• MedicAlert With 24/7 Wandering Support (Alzheimer’s Association)
• MedicAlert Supports the Alzheimer’s Association (MedicAlert Foundation)

Related Products