Digital Technologies in Care for Older Adults Living Alone: A Scoping Review
Xu, Wenqian LU
; Yang, Biying
and Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan
(2026)
In Innovation in Aging
- Abstract
- 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 2000-2025 were identified through systematic searches across eight databases and gray literature, yielding 37 sources. A qualitative content analysis synthesized study characteristics and... (More) - 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 2000-2025 were identified through systematic searches across eight 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, while policymakers address structural barriers such as unequal access to digital care technologies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/f761ef53-629e-4dd2-a7eb-182cc41e81df
- author
- Xu, Wenqian
LU
; Yang, Biying
and Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- Innovation in Aging
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- ISSN
- 2399-5300
- DOI
- 10.1093/geroni/igag048
- project
- Ageing without Children
- AI-powered care interventions and support systems for older persons with limited kin availability
- Enhancing Health and Well-being for Childless Older Adults and Those with Limited Kin Availability: Translating Research into Policy and Practice
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- f761ef53-629e-4dd2-a7eb-182cc41e81df
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-19 20:25:26
- date last changed
- 2026-05-08 08:38:57
@article{f761ef53-629e-4dd2-a7eb-182cc41e81df,
abstract = {{Background and Objectives<br/>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.<br/><br/>Research Design and Methods<br/>Studies from 2000-2025 were identified through systematic searches across eight databases and gray literature, yielding 37 sources. A qualitative content analysis synthesized study characteristics and findings.<br/><br/>Results<br/>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.<br/><br/>Discussion and Implications<br/>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, while policymakers address structural barriers such as unequal access to digital care technologies.}},
author = {{Xu, Wenqian and Yang, Biying and Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan}},
issn = {{2399-5300}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Oxford University Press}},
series = {{Innovation in Aging}},
title = {{Digital Technologies in Care for Older Adults Living Alone: A Scoping Review}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igag048}},
doi = {{10.1093/geroni/igag048}},
year = {{2026}},
}