The digitalisation of finance management skills in dementia since the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives Engaging with finances has become increasingly digitalised in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet it is unknown how finance management has been affected in people living with dementia. The aim of this qualitative study was therefore to explore how digitalisation and the recent pandemic have affected finance management skills in people with dementia. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely with people with dementia and unpaid carers living in the UK via phone or Zoom between February and May 2022. Transcripts were coded by one of four different research team members, including two unpaid carers who were public advisers on the project. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Thirty carers and people with dementia participated, and five overarching themes were identified. Managing finances has been both simplified and made more complicated by digitalising how money is spent and managed, with people with dementia and unpaid carers reporting advantages of using direct debits and debit cards, as well as digital illiteracy barriers for older relatives with dementia. Unpaid carers have received no support in managing their relative’s finances, and were found to be burdened by the additional caring duties. Conclusions Carers need to be supported in managing their relative’s finances as well as with their general well-being due to taking on additional caring duties. Digital systems for finance management need to be user-friendly for people with cognitive impairment, with a need for digital literacy training for middle-aged and older adults to avoid difficulties if they develop dementia, and improved access to a computer/tablet/smart phone.

The landscape of inequalities in dementia across Europe: First insights from the INTERDEM taskforce

“…Living in more rural locations is often linked to reduced suitable service availability, which can be a particular difficulty for people living with or caring for someone with a rarer subtype of dementia, such as Lewy Body, Parkinson's Disease, or semantic dementia 17 . Lacking the necessary finances to pay for care can also be a substantial barrier, despite means‐tested support, with additionally little to no guidance available on how to plan for or pay for future dementia care 18 . A recent systematic review explored the evidence base on inequalities in accessing and using community‐based social care for dementia, and synthesised evidence from 39 studies from 23 countries, highlighting five themes of situational (including economic factors), psychological (including carer beliefs), interpersonal (referring to relationships between people with dementia and carers, and support systems), structural (including lack of awareness of services), and cultural factors (including language barriers and stigma) 15 .…”

“…Inequalities in dementia care tend to be explored in individual countries and often without an intersectionality approach, thereby focusing on a single specific potential barrier to care, such as age, ethnicity, or rural/urban living location 18 . Kerpershoek et al 29 .…”