Human-Centered AI Healthcare Interventions and Quality of Life in Older Adults Living Alone: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The growth of single-person older adult households has heightened concerns about social isolation, chronic disease management, and diminished quality of life (QoL). A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to examine the efficacy of human-centered AI healthcare interventions on QoL among older adults living alone. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL) were searched (January 2020–March 2026) following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible. Methodological quality was appraised with the Cochrane RoB 2 tool; pooled effect estimates were derived via random-effects modeling. Fourteen RCTs (N = 2840) were included. Intervention types comprised conversational agents, socially assistive robots, remote monitoring systems, integrated platforms, and AI-driven mHealth applications. Meta-analysis demonstrated significant improvements in overall QoL (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.27–0.52, I2 = 59%), depression (SMD = −0.35, 95% CI: −0.43 to −0.26), and social connectedness (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.26–0.51). Subgroup analyses showed stronger effects for interventions with personalized feedback and human interaction. GRADE certainty was moderate for all three primary outcomes. GRADE certainty for secondary outcomes was moderate for physical health but low for self-management and cognitive function. Human-centered AI healthcare interventions significantly improve QoL and psychosocial outcomes among older adults living alone. Future research should prioritize long-term effectiveness, ethical implementation, digital inclusion, and culturally adaptive models.