Digital technologies in care for older adults living alone: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

The number of older adults living alone is increasing globally, often with varied risks and resilience capacities. Digital technologies may help mitigate these risks, but their potential remains poorly understood. This review maps evidence on digital technologies in social and health care interventions for older adults living alone, focusing on technology types, functions, intervention outcomes, integration into care, and associated benefits and challenges.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND

METHODS

Studies from 2000 to 2025 were identified through systematic searches across 8 databases and gray literature, yielding 37 sources. A qualitative content analysis synthesized study characteristics and findings.

RESULTS

Five categories of digital technologies were identified, from communication tools to AI-powered devices. Most interventions were delivered through scheduled sessions led by care providers. Most reported positive health outcomes (e.g., improved physical function, psychological well-being, reduced loneliness, healthier behaviors, and better self-care), while evidence on service delivery effects remains limited. While technologies improved care accessibility and coordination, challenges included limited digital literacy, exclusion, and design flaws.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Knowledge gaps include limited geographical diversity, insufficient research on underrepresented groups (e.g., ethnic minorities and those with low socioeconomic status), a lack of intersectional analyses, limited evidence on cost-effectiveness, long-term outcomes, and effective intervention components. Future interventions should adopt participatory, person-centered approaches to strengthen equity and agency, alongside policy efforts to address structural barriers such as unequal access to digital care technologies.