Ways that we help adults over 55 with ADHD

ADHD is a disorder that affects us throughout our lives. Adults in their late 50s and beyond, face a new set of challenges as they approach retirement years. While almost no research has yet been done on older adults with ADHD, clinical experience has guided us in understanding the challenges of being an older adult with ADHD.

At Chesapeake, we work with many adults over 55, helping them to:

Adjust to the empty nest — For parents with ADHD, life presents different challenges after children have grown up and left home. Women often report that they have more difficulty structuring their time when the daily routines of their children are no longer creating structure in their lives. Read more…
Prepare for retirement — Some adults with ADHD find themselves emotionally or financially unprepared for retirement. Because financial struggles are not uncommon among adults with ADHD, they may not have set aside enough money for retirement. And because planning a social life is often difficult for those with ADHD, many adults depend mostly, or entirely upon social interactions at work. We work with clients to find ADHD-friendly ways to build activities and social connections into their daily lives and help them to plan for a retirement that may include a gradual retirement or part-time work post retirement in order to maintain adequate income.
Counteract age-related cognitive changes — There are many ways to work against age-related cognitive decline. We work with our clients to help them understand how they can improve brain function through lifestyle changes including aerobic exercise, nutrition, better sleep habits, stress management, and nutritional supplements.
Meet the challenges of living alone with ADHD — Many older adults with ADHD are living alone, either through divorce or through death of a spouse. Our treatment focuses on helping older adults to develop healthy, stimulating lifestyles that keep them socially connected.
Cope with depression — For many adults with ADHD depression poses a greater challenge as they move into middle age and beyond. There are many approaches to the treatment of depression beyond simply taking medication. We coordinate care with treating physicians, but also work directly with clients struggling with depression using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and building healthy daily habits to counteract depression.
Reduce stress and anxiety — Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. While a referral for a medication consultation may be part of our treatment approach, we also work closely with you to identify stressors and reduce or eliminate them, as well as teaching you effective stress management techniques including mindfulness meditation.
Address hormonal issues for women — For women, as they go through menopause in their early 50s, they often find themselves more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. We work with women to make lifestyle changes that can counteract hormonal changes, and also consult with physicians to help them develop a medication regimen that can be effective for post-menopausal women.

Our experienced clinicians are dedicated to helping adults over 55 with ADHD make these years satisfying and enjoyable — helping them to discover and develop strengths and talents they may never have had time for and helping them to create an ADHD-friendly lifestyle that will minimize the challenges of ADHD.

Call us at (301) 562-8448 or send us an email to schedule an appointment and learn more about how you can live well as an over-55 adult with ADHD.