My brother has aphasia and the beginning stages of frontal lobe dementia. I want to take him overseas on a 2 week vacation. Advice?

He does want to go?

And he is not as yet incapacitated?

Then go - looking below, isn't this forum wonderful for the range of knowledge people offer?! - but have a back up/evacuation plan so you can cut the visit short if it's not working.

My husband has just been property diagnosed with FTD. He is 63. It started early 2014. I recently tried to take him away for two day. A place he had been before Complete train wreck. He was was completely out of his mind. Lasted one day and night. FTD sufferers do not cope with change, open spaces and change of routine. Definitely discuss with GP. Personally I think it is not a good idea

Lulus suggestions for headphones is great.

His aphasia, is it primary progressive aphasia?
And if so, to what degree is his communication skills affected?
Does/did he speak, read & write the language of the country you’re going to be visiting?
And can you as well as him “code switch” between English and the other language? Without looking on a translation app?

I’d suggest you try ahead of the trip to see just how well he can code switch. Do this with something easy, like a recipe. Imo recipes are really good to use for indicators on how well one can still process information as there’s math, time and sequenced directions involved. And do it a second time with something more challenging, like a trip to the mall and you leave him at one end with a mall map and he has to meet to you at a certain store by a set time. Have a friend of yours - who is his shadow or spotter - so he can’t truly get lost. If he can’t do these things, you’ll need imo a male aid to accompany him & you for the entire trip. He can’t be left alone. I’m assuming your female, so brother needs a male aid.

I have a decades long friend who has primary progressive aphasia. Her communication skills - now basically 4 years into her diagnosis- are pretty well 25% spoken 2-4 word sentences at best & 75% via pantomime. You’d have to truly know her for ages to understand the Marcel Marceau movements. She is now in locked ward MC. We -back in our heyday - traveled all over effortlessly. For her, any of the Cyrillic were no problema. She joked she could get us in & out of jail in any Whateverstan country. None of that knowledge exists anymore, that alphabet / lettering is just scribble to her now. It’s both amazing and frightening that that knowledge is poof. The sad part is she looks great & can do makeup & wardrobe & ADLs that are routine. But she cannot be let outside of her MC world for safety’s sake.

again if your female, your brother needs a male aid. There are folks who do this. It will not be inexpensive.

I would try a short vacation, like long weekend. I live on the West side of NJ. The shorepoints are 2 hours eat. If you have something like this where you have the ability to turn around and go home, might beva better alternative.

Two weeks is a long time. You already know that noise and kids bother him. Will his health insurance cover any problems he may have while there. Will he need certain shots? Will a plane ride bother him. With my Mom she was good for about an hour and wanted to go home.

What is the purpose of this trip?

Why do you want to take him on a trip to a place that is 'full of noisy children' if you know noise bothers him?

Can you get travel insurance for him?

It is one thing for someone with the beginning stages of dementia to appear to function well at home, take them out out of the familiar and all bets are off.

I might discuss it with his doctors, to get their input. If things go south, it might ruin the trip for the entire party. I've read that some of the symptoms are behavior problems, lack of inhibition, personality changes. I'd inquire about those potential issues and if he is close to those symptoms yet.

if noise is problematic perhaps you could get him used to wearing noise cancelling headphones with bluetooth and play some favourite music when in those circumstances.