Once you’ve decided to engage socially, it’s important to make sure you’re planning activities you’ll enjoy, so you feel encouraged to keep interacting with others. Think carefully about the environment for these get-togethers. For example, a loud, crowded space may feel more overwhelming and uncomfortable and not allow you to follow along with conversations as easily, Catanzaro says. Find quieter, calmer spaces and limit social interactions to just a few people if groups are overly stimulating or confusing.
You might also consider bringing a trusted companion, loved one, or caregiver with you who can guide you through some of your social interactions. They may be able to step in and help you avoid uncomfortable moments by saying things like, “Oh look, here’s John, our neighbor from three doors down,” Catanzaro says, before you have a chance to wonder where you know John from or what his name is. “Caregivers or loved ones of people with Alzheimer’s will often do some preliminary interventions to try and head off any awkward moments,” he says.
Focus on activities you like, too. For Berkheiser, that’s triathlons. “It clears my brain. I’m not thinking about or worrying about things, I’m just doing that activity,” he says. “It’s helping me stay happy and giving me purpose.” For others, that might be walking, dancing, or gardening, for example. Regular physical activity is associated with less cognitive decline among people with Alzheimer’s disease, with fewer side effects and better adherence than medication.
Look for ways to adapt the activities you enjoy to your needs as your memory continues to change. For example, if you like to sing but your previous choir practices become hard to keep up with, host a few friends for a karaoke night at home, Edgerly says. “It won’t be exactly what it used to be, but you can find something that’s still really fun and gets you time with friends and family [in] a different way,” she says.
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