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Using the Hidden-Disability Sunflower Lanyard to Help a Person with Dementia Find the Gate

This article explains how the sunflower lanyard works as a quiet signal to airport staff that your loved one has a hidden disability like dementia. It covers how to get one, how to use it at the airport, and how to work with staff to find the gate without causing confusion or distress. You will find concrete steps, phrases to use, and ways to adapt the approach for different stages of dementia. The goal is to reduce stress and keep your person safe while traveling.

Key points

  • The sunflower lanyard is a simple, low-cost tool that signals a hidden disability to trained airport staff, helping them offer extra support to find the gate.
  • Always call the airline ahead to arrange assistance, even if you plan to use the lanyard. The lanyard is a supplement, not a replacement for advance planning.
  • Stay physically close to your loved one at all times. The lanyard does not prevent wandering; it only helps staff know how to help if you get separated.
  • Not all airports recognize the lanyard. Check the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website before you travel, and have a backup plan like a printed card or a wheelchair escort.
  • Adapt your approach based on the stage of dementia. The lanyard works best for early to middle stages; for late stages, a wheelchair escort or meet-and-greet service is more reliable.
  • Use simple, warm phrases to guide your loved one, and avoid labels like 'wandering' or 'lost' that can cause shame or confusion.

What the sunflower lanyard is and why it matters at the airport

The hidden-disability sunflower lanyard is a green lanyard with yellow sunflowers that signals to trained staff that the wearer has a non-visible condition, such as dementia, autism, or anxiety. It started in the UK and is now recognized in many US airports and travel hubs. When a person with dementia wears it, airport employees know to offer extra patience, clear directions, and help navigating security and gates. This can make the difference between a chaotic, confusing trip and a manageable one.

However, the lanyard is not a magic fix. Not all airports or staff know about it, and in places where it is not recognized, it may not help. Also, some caregivers worry that wearing a visible symbol could make the person vulnerable to exploitation if they become separated. The key is to use it as one tool in a larger plan, not as the only strategy.

Why finding the gate is especially hard for someone with dementia

Airports are overwhelming environments: bright lights, constant announcements, crowds, and many signs. For a person with dementia, the cognitive load of processing all this information can cause confusion, anxiety, and a strong urge to wander. They may forget the gate number, misread signs, or become fixated on a different destination. The stress can trigger what looks like agitation or 'wandering' but is actually a desperate attempt to make sense of a disorienting situation.

Using the sunflower lanyard gives airport staff a clear, non-verbal cue that the person needs extra support. Instead of assuming the person is being difficult, staff are trained to approach with empathy, simplify instructions, and physically guide them to the correct gate. This reduces the chance of the person wandering off or becoming lost.

General caregiving information, not medical advice. Check medications and major care changes with your clinician.

Step-by-step

  1. 1. Before your trip, visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website (hdsunflower.com) to check if your departure and arrival airports are part of the program. Use their map to search by ZIP code or city. If they are, you can request a free lanyard at participating airports, or buy one cheaply online.

  2. 2. Before you leave home, call the airline's special assistance line and say: 'I am traveling with someone who has dementia. We would like help getting through security and to the gate. I do not want a wheelchair unless that is the only option, but I need a staff escort.' This sets up support in advance.

  3. 3. At the airport, have your loved one wear the sunflower lanyard visibly around their neck. If they resist, you can wear it yourself and explain: 'This helps people know we might need a little extra help today.' Keep it on until you are through security and at the gate.

  4. 4. Approach the airline check-in counter or a customer service desk and say: 'My companion has a hidden disability. We need help finding our gate. Can someone walk us there?' Staff trained in the program will recognize the lanyard and offer assistance.

  5. 5. At the TSA security checkpoint, tell the agent: 'My companion has dementia. They may need extra time or help understanding instructions.' The sunflower lanyard can signal this, but always speak up. TSA may offer a special lane or a pat-down instead of the full body scanner to reduce stress.

  6. 6. If a staff escort is not available, ask for a printed or digital map of the terminal. Point to the gate number and say: 'We are going here. Let's walk together slowly.' Use simple, one-step directions: 'First, we go straight. Then we turn left.'

  7. 7. While walking, keep your loved one on the side away from crowds and distractions. If they start to fixate on a different gate or exit, gently redirect: 'I see that sign, but our gate is this way. Let's follow the sunflower helper.'

  8. 8. Once at the gate, sit in a visible spot near the boarding area. Keep the lanyard on until you board. If you need to use the restroom, ask a gate agent to watch your loved one or use a companion care bathroom so you can stay together.

  9. 9. If your loved one becomes agitated or tries to leave the gate area, use the lanyard to signal a staff member. Say: 'They are confused. Can you help us stay here until boarding?' Staff can offer a quiet area or a distraction.

  10. 10. After the trip, note what worked and what didn't. If the lanyard was helpful, keep using it. If not, consider other options like a 'meet-and-greet' service or a wheelchair escort for future trips.

What not to do

  • Do not assume the lanyard will be recognized everywhere. In some airports or smaller travel hubs, staff may not know what it means. Always have a backup plan, like a printed card that says: 'I have dementia. Please help me find my gate.'

  • Do not put the lanyard on the person without explaining it first. If they feel it labels them as 'different,' they may become upset or remove it. Instead, introduce it as a 'helper badge' that lets nice people know how to assist.

  • Do not rely solely on the lanyard to prevent wandering. The lanyard signals a need for help, but it does not physically stop someone from walking away. Stay close, hold hands if needed, and use physical proximity as your primary safety measure.

  • Do not remove the lanyard in crowded or unfamiliar areas just because you feel safe. The risk of separation is highest in busy terminals. Keep it on until you are seated on the plane or in your ride home.

  • Do not expect the lanyard to work if the person is in a late stage of dementia and cannot understand or cooperate with staff. In that case, a wheelchair escort or a companion service may be more effective.

Practical tools

  • The sunflower lanyard itself

    A green lanyard with yellow sunflowers. Available free at participating airports or for a few dollars online. Wear it visibly around the neck. It signals to trained staff that the wearer has a hidden disability and may need extra patience, clear directions, or physical help to find the gate.

  • The 'I need help finding my gate' card

    A small card you can print or write on that says: 'I have a hidden disability (dementia). Please help me find gate [number]. Thank you.' Show this to airport staff if the lanyard is not recognized. Keep it in your pocket or attached to the lanyard.

  • The pre-trip call script

    Before you travel, call the airline and say: 'I am traveling with someone who has dementia. We need assistance from check-in to the gate. I do not want a wheelchair unless necessary, but I need a staff escort. Can you arrange that?' Write down the confirmation number and the name of the person you spoke to.

  • The 'stay close' phrase

    A simple, warm phrase to use when your loved one starts to wander: 'I need you to stay right next to me so we don't lose each other. Let's hold hands until we get to our gate.' This is more effective than saying 'don't wander' or 'stay put.'

  • The sunflower map check

    Before your trip, go to hdsunflower.com and use their map to find airports that participate in the program. Print or screenshot the list. If your airport is not listed, plan to use other strategies like a wheelchair escort or a meet-and-greet service.

Discuss with your clinician

Ask your doctor if your loved one is safe to travel alone or with minimal supervision, especially if they have a history of wandering or agitation in unfamiliar places.

Discuss whether a wheelchair escort is medically appropriate if the person has mobility issues or is at high risk of falling in a busy airport.

Ask about medications that could help reduce anxiety during travel, and whether they should be taken before the flight or only if needed.

Related guides

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