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February 10
Most people don’t think of ADHD and aging in the same sentence, but what happens when someone reaches their 60s, 70s, or beyond—never knowing they had ADHD in the first place?
Jami Shapiro is tackling that question head-on. As the founder of Silver Linings Transitions, she helps seniors navigate major life changes like downsizing and moving. But her journey into ADHD advocacy became personal when she realized ADHD had been running through her family for generations—including her parents, two of her three children, and herself.
Jami was diagnosed with ADHD at 45, after her child’s evaluation led to an unexpected realization: she had more “yes” answers on the ADHD questionnaire than they did. Suddenly, the struggles she’d faced—talking too much in class, procrastinating on big projects, feeling scattered while juggling work and family—made sense. But the biggest lightbulb moment came when she recognized the same patterns in her aging mother. Her discovery led her to create Grandma Has ADHD, a podcast and platform dedicated to shedding light on undiagnosed ADHD in seniors and helping families navigate it with understanding and support.
In this conversation, Jami shares her own diagnosis story, what it’s like to build a business with ADHD, and why the senior community desperately needs more awareness around neurodiversity. She also offers practical advice on managing life transitions—whether it’s decluttering, right-sizing a home, or setting up systems that actually work for ADHD brains. If you’ve ever wondered how ADHD plays out in later years—or how to support an aging parent who might have it—this episode is an eye-opener.
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"I knew I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I wanted to help people through life’s biggest transitions with care and support."
- Jami Shapiro
"The choices we make now shape our future."
- Jami Shapiro
"The most inspiring people I’ve met are those who choose to embrace life fully, no matter their circumstances. It’s not about age—it’s about attitude."
- Jami Shapiro
"Are you holding onto something because of who you were, or because of who you want to be?"
- Jami Shapiro
"Getting diagnosed was like finally receiving the playbook to my life. Suddenly, everything made sense. It wasn’t about fixing myself—it was about understanding myself."
- Jami Shapiro
"We have a responsibility to be an example for our children—to show them what courageous aging looks like. Life doesn’t end at a certain age; it keeps evolving, and so do we."
- Jami Shapiro
- Jami Shapiro discovered her ADHD at age 45 when her child was being diagnosed, leading her to recognize similar patterns in herself and later in her mother, who had been misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression.
- As a child, she struggled to sit still and learn to read until second grade, was frequently told she talked too much in class, and showed classic ADHD traits that were overlooked in the 1970s.
- After her own diagnosis, Jami recognized ADHD running through three generations of her family, including her parents and two of her three children, giving her unique insight into how the condition manifests differently across ages and individuals.
[20:00 - 40:00] Professional Journey and Business Development
- Jami founded Silver Linings Transitions, a company helping seniors navigate major life changes, inspired by her experience with thyroid cancer at age 34 which prompted her to seek more meaningful work.
- Through her work with seniors and her ADHD specialist certification from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, she recognized patterns of undiagnosed ADHD in older adults.
- This realization led her to create the "Grandma Has ADHD" podcast, addressing the underserved population of seniors with ADHD and working to reduce stigma around late-life diagnosis.
[40:00 - 67:00] Senior Transitions and ADHD Impact
- Drawing from her professional experience, Jami discusses how ADHD affects the downsizing process, offering practical strategies like the "dining room table test" and focusing on what to keep rather than what to discard.
- She emphasizes the importance of addressing aging with ADHD, noting that the ADHD community needs to prepare for how symptoms and management strategies may change in senior years.
- Jami shares insights about working with professional organizers and move managers, highlighting how proper support can make transitions manageable for people with ADHD, while maintaining focus on future quality of life.
- Website: silverliningstransitions.com
- Website: grandmahasadhd.com
- Instagram: @silverliningstransitions
- Facebok: silverliningstransitions
