Contextual factors of financial capability and financial well-being for adults living with brain injury: a qualitative photovoice study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the contextual factors related to financial capability and financial well-being for adults living with acquired brain injury (ABI). DESIGN & METHOD: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using photovoice and included 17 adults who live with ABI in Manitoba, Canada. Over 3-to-5 weeks, participants took photos of their financial capability (i.e. knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to managing finances) or their financial well-being (i.e. subjective and objective financial outcomes). Participants were interviewed about their photos. Five researchers iteratively and thematically analyzed interview transcripts. MAIN OUTCOMES/RESULTS: Analysis identified the importance of the economic, social, technology, and physical or sensory context. Subthemes related to: (i) hard times finding financial resources; (ii) processes not making sense; (iii) getting help from the right person; and (iv) invisible disability bias and stigma. CONCLUSIONS: There is decreased literature about financial capability or financial well-being after ABI. The results of this study highlight the salience of finance to living with ABI and the importance of the context to addressing financial-related life participation for people living with ABI. Information about contextual factors related to finance can improve rehabilitation assessment and intervention practice as well as emphasize needed accessibility changes to financial environments.

Financial Capability and Financial Well-Being Challenges and Vulnerabilities of Adults Living With Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Survey.

Objective: To describe the financial capability (FC) and financial well-being (FWB) of adults living with acquired brain injury (ABI) from a lived experience perspective. Design: People living with ABI completed a 32-item and close others a 22-item anonymous survey using either online or print/mail-in options. Setting: Responses were collected from adults in the province of Manitoba (Canada) during August-October 2021. Participants: Respondents were adults (18+) living with ABI (n=38) or close others of ABI survivors (n=19). Adults living with ABI experienced traumatic brain injury (n=22; 58%), stroke (n=8; 21%), or other ABI mechanisms (n=8; 21%). Nineteen (50%) respondents with ABI were men, 17 (45%) were women, and 1 (2.5%) was nonbinary; 95% were more than 1-year post-ABI. Close others were spouses/partners, parents, other family, and paid caregivers. Three of the 19 close others self-reported as men and 16 as women. Interventions: n/a. Main Outcome Measures: n/a. Results: For key FC indicators, 13 (34%) people living with ABI felt their current knowledge and skills were insufficient, and 26 (70%) felt that ABI had affected their ability to make financial decisions or complete financial activities. Fourteen of the 19 close others have worried about the finance-related choices, skills, or behaviors of the person living with ABI, and 17 felt that ABI symptoms had affected the FC of the person living with ABI. For key FWB indicators, 22 (58%) adults living with ABI felt stressed or anxious about finances at least some of the time. Seventeen (45%) of the adults living with ABI reported having trouble making ends meet at least some of the time. Conclusions: Respondents reported FC limitations and FWB challenges for people living with ABI, which can be indicative of financial vulnerabilities and unmet needs. Future research should explore optimal ways to address these financial-related challenges after ABI.