Grandma Has ADHD: Jami Shapiro on Late Diagnosis and New Beginnings

Nov 10, 2025

Jamie Shapiro, an ADHD coach and founder of Silver Linings Transitions, shares her journey of late ADHD diagnosis and its impact on older adults. She discusses the intersection of aging and ADHD, highlighting how aging traits can mask ADHD symptoms. Jamie sheds light on the emotional effects of late diagnoses and the importance of community. She provides practical tools for managing ADHD in later life and encourages proactive planning for aging with ADHD while emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding across generations.

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INSIGHT

Pattern-Connecting As A Core Strength

ADHD often produces pattern-seeing and rapid idea-connecting that feel obvious to those who have it.
That 'MacGyver' or pattern-connection ability is a consistent creative strength of ADHD minds.

INSIGHT

Diagnosis Transforms Family Dynamics

Discovering a parent's ADHD can transform the parent-child relationship from blame to empathy.
Late diagnosis brings both relief and grief about missed tools earlier in life.

ADVICE

Call Time-Outs During Heated Fights

When arguments escalate, call a time-out and reconvene after calming down to avoid amygdala-driven fights.
Agree on a return time and reduce ambiguity to make reconciliation possible.

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Hey team!

This week, I'm talking with Jami Shapiro, ADHD coach, founder of Silver Linings Transitions, and host of the Grandma Has ADHD podcast. Jami has also recently published her book This Explains So Much, which dives into the world of undiagnosed ADHD in people over 50. Jami brings a wealth of experience from her work helping older adults downsize and organize their lives.

In our conversation, we dig into what aging looks like with ADHD, from memory changes to social isolation, and how curiosity, compassion, and the power of community can make a huge difference. We get into the challenges of different stages of life, how ADHD can be mistaken for dementia, and what it means to build understanding across generations.

I think this is definitely an episode for everyone, as no matter how you slice it, we're all going to be facing these issues someday, and because of the genetic nature of ADHD, you likely already have someone in your life dealing with these issues.

If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page, you can find that at HackingYourADHD.com/256

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y835cnrk

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HackingYourADHD

This Episode's Top Tips

1. Many symptoms that get labeled as "senior moments" (forgetting names, losing track of appointments, or misplacing items) can actually be longstanding ADHD traits that are finally being noticed. Forgetfulness that comes from ADHD doesn't need memory-care protocols; instead, it needs ADHD strategies such as reminders, structure, external cues, and tools like smartwatches or calendars.
2. As we age, we can risk drifting into isolation, and this can be especially true with ADHD. We already struggle with time blindness, motivation, and this can easily lead to dropping the ball on keeping up with friends and family. This means it's important that we're scheduling regular check-ins with friends and doing things like joining a hobby group.
3. We can revisit our relationships and recognize that your parents (or kids) with ADHD were just trying to do their best; reframing these patterns can transform your relationship. Instead of replaying the same old fights, you start from a place of compassion. It's not about forgiving the past; it's about giving context and finding a way to move forward with the relationship.