Does your elderly loved one have attention issues? Maybe, you aren’t even sure, yet you know their mind is always racing, they can’t focus their thoughts, and they have some other issues going on, as well. Sometimes, adults are diagnosed with ADHD or another attention disorder, even though they never were when growing up. This could be the case for your elderly loved one.
What is ADHD?
There are various kinds of attention disorders that your elderly loved one might have.
One of the types of attention disorders is the inattentive type. With this condition, the person might:
- Struggle to stay organized (or not be able to at all without medication or other treatments)
- Doesn’t seem to pay attention to details
- Loses things a lot of the time
- Forgets things often
- Not finishing projects at all or not on time
- Getting easily distracted
These are signs of the inattentive type of attention disorder.
There is also a type brought about with hyperactivity. In these cases, you might notice:
- They are talking a lot
- Fidgeting often
- Can’t sit still very well
- Interrupting others when they are talking
- Moving around non-stop
- Always wanting to be on the go
- Talking fast
If you notice these things, your elderly loved one might have hyperactivity type of attention disorder.
Someone could have both the inattentive and hyperactivity forms of this disorder, as well.
What are the causes of attention disorders?
At this time, there really isn’t one exact known cause for attention disorders. However, it has been found that through a combination of medications and therapy, along with lifestyle changes, someone can manage their attention disorder. If your elderly loved one has this type of disorder, they may need a lot of help from an elder care provider to manage it.
What are the common treatments for attention disorders in the elderly?
If you suspect your elderly loved one has an attention disorder or they have already been diagnosed, you might want to learn more about the treatments they might receive. Some of the common treatments for attention disorders in the elderly include:
- Various medications (non-stimulants and/or stimulants)
- Individual and/or group therapy
- Support groups for people with attention disorders
- Getting help managing a schedule
- Learning organizational tips that work for them
If your elderly loved one does get an attention disorder diagnosis, you can talk to their doctor about any treatments they prescribe.
Some senior citizens are diagnosed with an attention disorder, even if they never were diagnosed as a child. If this is the case for your elderly loved one or if you suspect they have an attention deficit disorder of some sort, hopefully, the information left here today has helped you to better understand what is going on. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to have an elder care provider take your elderly loved one to the doctor and ask these questions.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712975/
If you are considering elder care in Portage, MI, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at Fresh Perspective Home Care at (269) 329-4717. We are here to help!
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