Technology-Enabled Interventions for Preventing and Responding to Elder Abuse: A Review of the Current Evidence

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Abstract
This scoping review consolidates existing technology-enabled interventions for preventing and responding to abuse of older people (AOP). Studies reporting original, evaluated interventions in which technology delivered over 50% of the content or enabled coordination were included. Ten primary databases, four gray literature sources, and two artificial intelligence‑assisted platforms were searched for articles published between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2024. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality using JBI appraisal tools. Data were extracted by one reviewer and independently verified by a second using a standardized charting form. Of 46,195 records, 17 studies describing 14 technology-enabled interventions were included, targeting general ( n = 11), financial ( n = 2), or sexual ( n = 1) AOP. Nine were professional training programs, and five were direct AOP prevention interventions, comprising primary ( n = 1), secondary ( n = 2), and tertiary prevention ( n = 2). Technologies employed were: Web-based coordination portals ( n = 2) and tech-assisted individual interventions ( n = 12), such as e-learning and virtual reality. Although positive results for intermediate outcomes (e.g., service provision) were observed, evidence of alleviation of AOP occurrence and improvement of victim health remains limited. Current evidence is thus insufficient to recommend the adoption of technological interventions in response to AOP. We recommend (a) advancing scientific rigor by prioritizing randomized controlled trials with longitudinal follow-up, (b) employing objective, verified indicators for abuse victimization and victim health as outcome measures, and (c) establishing a standard evaluation framework to enable cross-study synthesis. This review was registered on PROSPERO (no. CRD420251139047).

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