Getting to see her sister and a quadruple-decade close family friend for lunch was the highlight of Mitzi’s day. Even though the restaurant was initially fairly calm since we went early, by the end of lunch, as it filled up with people and noise, Mitzi got quieter and fuzzier.
I was blown away after we left when she voiced to me that she thinks going to restaurants and meeting groups of more than 3 or so is starting to get too overwhelming for her. She said it’s hard to focus on what people are saying and when she gets confused, it’s easier for her to just “shut down.” She made a quick mention of the same feeling after going to lunch with a group from Bible Study on Tuesday, so this was quite affirming.
Rarely does Mitzi voice things like this, so I was so impressed and grateful that she was able to articulate her feelings so well. We decided we’d try to plan more social meetings at houses or similar places so she’s less likely to get overwhelmed. We’re also finding that gatherings too early in the day are becoming more difficult to get to. Late afternoon is becoming more and more nap-friendly rather than good for social time. It has been great to have her help us all “drive” these evolving changes in her social world by expressing how she feels. Making memories and spending time connecting with people is paramount to her, but as Alzheimer’s continues to make its ugly presence known in every aspect of her world, it’s equally as important to go with her flow…????
