Healthcare Applications for Elderly: A Scoping Review and a Practical Roadmap for Developing Health Apps Publisher Pubmed



Rezayi S ; Shahmoradi L ; Shabzendehdar M ; Esmaeeli E ; Naemi R ; Meigooni F S M ; Morovati P
Source: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making Published:2026

Abstract

Objective: In this scoping assessment, our primary goal was to investigate the uses of health apps for elder citizens. Original articles and a few relevant sources have been mined in this regard. A development roadmap for health apps has also been created. Method: This scoping review is divided into three sections: 1. A thorough analysis of the pertinent literature and gray sources; 2. A qualitative study intended to produce a roadmap for the development of healthcare apps; 3. Grouping related concepts into descriptive themes. The study team looked through three distinct databases in order to conduct a scoping review. To obtain material published between January 1, 2015, and July 24 and 25, 2023, we used electronic search tactics from Medline (via PubMed), Web of Science (WoS), and Scopus. Results: There were 46 citations with studies meeting our criterion. Of the 46 studies that were analyzed, 30% (n = 14) were carried out in the United States, while 6% (n = 3) were carried out in Canada. The developed apps offer five primary advantages, with 46 reviewed publications highlighting improved physical health as the most significant outcome. Because of the technological development, people and governments are considering creating and developing various apps to increase physical stamina, which can lead to enhanced overall health and fitness levels among users. Twenty-eight (60%) of the developed apps demonstrated a positive impact on the metrics evaluated through urgent reasoning. The majority of these assessments have focused on usability or ease of use. A product’s usability can be assessed at several phases of development. Continual usability testing during the development phase improves the product’s responsiveness to user needs, ensuring that the final product aligns closely with user expectations and requirements. Without relying on statistical calculations, 12 apps, or 26%, demonstrated positive results. A useful roadmap for creating and implementing healthcare apps can be found, and it consists of 14 primary phases with accompanying sub-actions. Conclusion: The papers under investigation show that developed apps significantly improve the health of elderly adults, and we will highlight their numerous benefits. The literature review and thematic analysis revealed that the creation of health applications requires more than fundamental technological design; it necessitates a multi-phase, user-centered, and market-oriented approach within a specified timeframe. © The Author(s) 2026.