Understanding civic participation of older adults: a scoping review

Background and objectives:
Despite growing policy and research interest, definitions of civic participation remain inconsistent and evidence concerning older adults’ participation fragmented. The review questions included: (a) What is the current state of knowledge on older adults’ civic participation? (b) What factors influence their participation?

Methods:
A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley’s framework and reported using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework. Thirty-one global electronic databases were searched in 2023 and updated in 2025. Data were analysed using descriptive and thematic synthesis.

Results:
Most included studies were from North America, with the fewest from South America (N = 174). Civic participation among older adults included volunteering, advocacy, political engagement, and informal helping, shaped by individual (health, motivation, education) and contextual (socioeconomic, cultural, institutional) factors. Facilitators included social networks, education, and supportive policies, while barriers involved poor health, ageism, limited access, and organizational rigidity. The literature revealed temporal shifts in how policy makers and researchers perceived civic participation, and with limited attention to subgroups such as the oldest-old and nursing home residents.

Discussion and implications:
A wide array of factors either facilitated or acted as barriers to civic engagement among older adults, reflecting their personal circumstances and socio-political contexts. Civic engagement can be maintained and strengthened through inclusive, meaningful strategies and policies. However, active participation should not be regarded as a measure of successful aging or a means to develop social capital. The decision of older adults to participate, or not, should be respected.