Alone and missing friends. What to do?

Boy, I wish I had the answer. Hopefully someone on here has an idea or two.

It sounds like he would benefit from a day program. If he functions too well to feel that he belongs there, many spouses have been successful in having their pwd "hired" to help with the others, or perhaps believe they're volunteering to help. It would provide him with some socialization, which it sounds like he's truly wanting.

It is rough! You have to change your life. Very hard and frought with emotions.

If you are able I suggest getting both of you out of the house…daily if possible. A walk, drive through lunch pickup, sitting in the park watching kids play.

those thing helped me and my husband. what helped just me was calling friends and family. I kept up with them, their families, their travels. I never discussed my husband or how we were doing.

Also I spent a lot of time sitting beside my husband. I was surprised how much one could actually accomplish sitting next to someone.

I relate to jfkoc it’s very rough and you need to get out of the house daily either together or on your own. We used to walk (very slowly) down near the water and talk endlessly of our boating past. I found I could walk in a bit of a trance arm in arm so I didn’t loose him and be off in another world of thought. It was an interesting exercise. Then when that wasn’t working so well, we got a puppy ( a bit scary because it meant more work for me) but it has been the best thing, takes up so much of my time and my DH seems to know that I have to do this. We now walk down near the boats and people stop and talk ‘dogs’ so I get my socialising. We have also discovered‘Sailability’ which we both love and we can both do a little individual sailing, so again a little space for me, but I don’t know how long my DH will be able to keep going, then we will have to try something else. Day respite, making funny hats or colouring in just doesn’t suit. So who knows, on we all struggle. Just thought, another thing I do is at the right time put on some very soft music and sit and watch my DH the music soothes him and he sleeps, the music softens me and I cry, write poetry and think of the past. Perhaps it’s indulging but it’s facing what it is and encourages me to appreciate the fact that he is still here and keeps me gentle with him. Maybe some one can get something out of this, it’s such a relief to write it down.