Towards Community and Individual Resilience in Older Ages: A Scoping Review and Development of the ‘Heart, Head, Hands’ Conceptual Framework

To explore how resilience manifests in ageing communities, with a focus on the intersection between community resilience and resilience at older ages. A scoping review was conducted following extended PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search and screening process identified 63 relevant articles. Thematic analysis was used to examine how older adults and communities develop and activate resilience capacities. A two-round Delphi process involving 24 international experts was employed to validate identified capacities. We identified 35 resilience capacities across three levels: individual (15), community (14), and national/system-level (6). These were organised using the ‘Heart-Head-Hands’ framework, driven by three interrelated processes: (1) Touching ‘Hearts’ – Fostering motivational capacities through meaning-making, intergenerational storytelling, and transmission of cultural values. Older adults play a central role in shaping cultural identity, sharing resilience narratives, and strengthening collective efficacy. (2) Aligning ‘Heads’ – Building cognitive and strategic capacities through learning, reflection, and shared decision-making. Effective risk management depends on integrating local and professional knowledge, often led by older adults lived experience and supported by community leadership. (3) Joining ‘Hands’ – Mobilising practical support, social relationships, and community participation. Mutual aid, disaster preparedness, and collaboration between grassroots and institutional actors were critical for coordinated action. This review highlights the dynamic interplay between emotional, cognitive, and practical dimensions of resilience in ageing communities. The proposed framework offers a practical tool to identify, strengthen, and apply resilience capacities across a range of ageing and community development contexts.