# Digital narratives in person-centered care: a scoping review

## TL;DR

Digital storytelling helps preserve older adults' life stories and improves their emotional and cognitive well-being, supporting person-centered care.

## Contribution

This scoping review identifies digital tools for capturing life stories of older adults and their impact on person-centered care.

## Key findings

- Digital storytelling improves emotional well-being, preserves personal identity, and fosters social connections.
- Short digital formats are suitable for those with cognitive or digital literacy limitations, while longer formats support deeper reflection.
- Digital albums and books enhance intergenerational communication and memory preservation.

## Abstract

Narrative care, an essential component of person-centered care (PCC), individualized care that respects unique life stories and preferences, uses personal narratives to foster understanding, trust, and emotional well-being. Digital storytelling has emerged as a valuable tool to collect and preserve these narratives. This scoping review explored digital tools used to capture life stories of older adults, summarizing their benefits, limitations, and implications for PCC.

Studies addressing digital storytelling, life review, or life story work with older adults, published in English or Spanish, and reporting cognitive, psychological, social, or care-related outcomes were included. A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, and PsycInfo in December 2024, identifying 615 records. After screening and full-text review, 21 studies were included. Data were extracted on study design, sample characteristics, digital tools, outcomes, and limitations. Digital resources were classified into short or long videos, digital albums/collages, digital books/stories, and other formats.

The review encompassed 1,551 participants (ageM = 75.86 years). Digital storytelling improved emotional well-being, preserved personal identity, fostered social connections, and stimulated cognitive functions. Short formats proved particularly suitable when cognitive or digital literacy limitations were present, whereas longer formats supported in-depth reflection and memory preservation. Albums and digital books enhanced intergenerational communication. Key limitations included technological barriers, varying digital literacy levels, and lack of methodological standardization.

Digital storytelling enhances PCC by embedding personal narratives into care, but successful implementation requires addressing digital inequalities and standardizing methodologies through interdisciplinary collaboration.