I really appreciate this discussion. Everyone is so on point here. My husband now has moderate Alzheimer's Disease. He is not as sociable as he was before and too much stimulation exhausts him. When a friend visits, I tell him he does not have to stay with us. Usually he says hello and retreats to our bedroom. I did have one guest over for Thanksgiving and he did converse with her for a while, but by the end of dinner he was exhausted, went to bed and was down for the night. I was thinking about having that same guest again for Christmas, but I've decided to pass for a quiet day instead. Maybe @teacher502 let your husband know he can leave the festivities to rest any time he wants to and ask your family members to keep things on the quiet side as much as it's possible. My husband is deeply tied to our routines, especially meal times and certain chores, so maybe try to preserve as much of your husband's routine as possible while everyone is visiting. Wishing you all the best this holiday season. Teri