The increasing ageing population and the profound life-changing consequences of acquired brain injury (ABI) make it critical to reorient the focus of care and rehabilitation for older adults towards promoting their potential for a fulfilling and prosperous life. Consequently, there is a growing need to investigate well-being qualitatively, especially in the context of enhancing rehabilitation systems. This necessitates current research to give more attention to older adults’ experiences of well-being and satisfaction levels concerning their care during ABI rehabilitation. Aim: To acquire an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of older individuals (+65) living with acquired brain injury when undergoing physical rehabilitation in relation to their sense of well-being during care provision within the Greek Healthcare System. To provide an interpretive exposition illustrating the impact that Greece’s healthcare and rehabilitation system has on older individuals’ felt sense of well-being. Design: A qualitative study design with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was developed to provide a comprehensive exploration and interpretation of the well-being subjective experiences of older individuals living with acquired brain injury, undergoing physical rehabilitation. Method: A total of 14 semi-structured interviews with older individuals living with acquired brain injury were purposively conducted. A thematic analysis of the interviews’ transcriptions was carried out within the perspective of a hermeneutic phenomenological paradigm, following van Manen’s and Clarke and Braun's methods. Findings: Four themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Challenges of new life situation, 2) Seeking emotional and practical support through social interaction, 3) Identifying contextual processes of rehabilitation, 4) The felt sense of self in the aftermath of ABI. The different subjective experiences, intersubjective relations and contextual clinical conditions influence and determine older individuals’ sense of well-being and by extension the realisation of the new changes in their life, leading to various well-being or suffering possibilities. Conclusions: The exploration of the interrelation between these dimensions is crucial to understand further older individuals’ needs regarding their rehabilitation as well as for xii the enhancement of their mental and physical state. A deep and comprehensive knowledge of the factors impacting older individuals’ felt sense of well-being during rehabilitation can contribute to the provision of more dignified and humanising health care.

All interviews were conducted face to face and were audio recorded in two devices. Due to the phenomenological approach that this study follows, the semi-structured interview method is employed as it allows the researcher to uncover new important aspects of the phenomenon through the flexibility of questions and the interaction with the participants. Interviews were transcribed in Greek and then they were translated in English. Participants were recruited by employing a purposive sampling strategy. The study participants were selected according to their specific characteristics and lived experiences and because these experiences are relevant to the topic under investigation. The following inclusion criteria were applied: adults aged 65 years or older who have been diagnosed with some type of ABI; individuals who are able to effectively communicate with the researcher without presenting any severe speech difficulties; being or had been in rehabilitation within a formalised healthcare setting at least one month before the interview. Participants were excluded if they had severe physical, cognitive or psychosocial difficulties which would preclude an interview. This was assessed by consulting the doctors and nurses caring for the individuals. In addition, individuals who had received physical rehabilitation services more than once and for another health reason were excluded from the sample, as this would alter their initial ABI rehabilitation experiences.