I don't suspect that ADDers would make the best caregivers. I'm sure that there are exceptions and that some ADD qualities would be beneficial, but in general, what do you think? I don't consider myself a good caregiver. If one of my family members is under the weather, my thoughts drift to how it affects me. I don't always think to check on them, see if they need anything, make sure they're comfortable. Maybe it's me personally, that I'm just not good at comforting someone else. I feel bad about that. I don't like to take care of people and I resent having to do so. I don't like people needing me to be there. Wanting me to be there is a different story. On the other hand, I really enjoy instructing and educating others. I love it when people ask for my expertise. I love coaching youth sports, at the end of a season I'm proud of what my team has learned and the parents always ask me to return.

Toss it around.

Well I plan on becoming a registered nurse when my youngest is in school:p . I'm the opposite actually. I love taking care of people, helping people, bringing people happiness. It full-fills me in a way that nothing else can. It gives me pure joy. My mother, who I know has AD/HD herself, is also in a helping profession.
For me, I do worry though about how on earth I will be able to keep track of everything, medications, all the people, all the orders from doctors, etc. That really bothers me, and I'm not sure how well I will do with that. The actual act of caring for people though, like I said, brings me a lot of joy.

Maybe you don't think you would be good at it because you just don't like it. That's okay. Don't feel badly about it. Maybe in your family you might be better at the adminstration part of it, like helping with finances or appointments or making other arrangements that are not so "hands on" and personal. There are needs for those gifts too, if you like doing them. I am actually a caregiver part time. I really enjoy it, and they always like having me there. I took care of my dad his last weeks too. It was hard, and overwhelming, but for someone who enjoys it, it's a gift to the receiver. You find ways of remembering what needs to be done. Iv'e had to review meds and schedules, and sometimes re-write them so they made sense to my linear mind.

Your valuable gifts and talents lie elsewhere, dude!

I have been a caregiver since high school and love it actually.I do agree that in the nursing home it can be stressful as they give you like 25 people too care for to yourself and that is stressful as its not fair to those poor people to get care like that.

I think it just depends. I've worked in the health care industry and didn't mind it. I also teach technical classes, which I like too. As far as loved ones, well, I tend to smother them with attention because I get very anxious (especially about my DD). But when I'm sick, my antisocial self shows up and doesn't want to see or talk or be fed soup to by ANYONE!! hahaha

Thanks for the responses everybody. Maybe I just resent being tasked with taking care of someone. I really do enjoy doing things for others, more so when it's something I want to do. It seems like I've always been taking care of someone. My mother has suffered from severe migraines for as long as I can remember, the kind that would take her out of commission for days at a time. During those times, I took care of her and my two younger brothers. This was probably from the time I was 10 years old. My parents divorced when I was 13 and I had to take on an even larger role. Oh, well. We all do what we have to do.

ricksan, children placed in adult roles at a young age miss out on being a child.

Some of the most generous, thoughtful, caring people I know say, "I am no Florence Nightingale" and hire help to care for family members. I don't think being a caregiver has anything to do with ADHD.

I agree with the person who said you may just not be interested in the caregiver role. I'm 20 years old and I was diagnosed with add in 4th grade, bla bla. But I've had 2 caregiver jobs for the past 2 years and I love them both! I'm also a nursing student right now too so I really like the caregiver role. You just might not be interested in it. You actually have to like it or want to do it in order to get the job done. Usually though I don't even consider it a job because I like doing it so much.