Forget-Me-Not

By:Michelle Remold

As I sat down to write this post, I decided to do a little research on ‘Forget-Me-Not’ flowers because they are commonly associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The story behind the flower’s name is quite interesting. The flower appears to have been used in many countries for various reasons ranging from remembering those lost in war to remembering what causes they were advocating for.

Forget-Me-Nots are used to ‘remember’ many things and I cannot think of a more fitting flower to be associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Not only is there meaning in the name, but in the history of the flower’s name as well. Personally, my favorite flowers are Birds of Paradise and Orchids, but for no other reason than I think that they are gorgeous. When I think about Forget-Me-Not flowers though, I think that they can be used for many things.

The first thing that comes to mind is giving someone Forget-Me-Nots when moving away. However, I think that if dementia care wings have outdoor areas, that Forget-Me-Nots would be a nice addition. Forget-Me-Nots can mean don’t forget who I was as the disease progresses, don’t forget me as time moves on, and don’t forget the memories you have with me.

The sentiment behind Forget-Me-Not flowers is simple and very clear. They are tiny beautiful flowers that merely make a simple request; Forget-Me-Not.

Michelle graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with her Bachelor of Arts in Gerontology: Social Sciences and a minor in Family Studies. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Aging Studies and Nursing Home Administration from Minnesota State University Mankato.