How do you socialize less? Or enjoy it more?

I didn't respond. Mom did this at times, one thought just ran into another. I would answer her question just to get "that look" like what was I talking about. I just let her talk. One day, though, we were sitting watch TV like we did every night, and she just kept talking, which we ignored. Then she said "well I guess no one is going to answer me".

My DH had an advantage, she sat on his deaf ear side and he could turn down his hearing aide. He reads the cc.

At the point that you are being constantly "shadowed" and the elder is no longer safely left alone, it is time for placement so that this burden is shared across several shifts with several workers and many residents. This is both better for your loved one, and better for you, imho. It may be time to take that into consideration.