<p>The field of aging research has long struggled with issues of inclusivity, often failing to adequately represent the diverse experiences of older adults, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. The potential of participatory research approaches to address these gaps is explored in this paper. A&#xa0;scoping review of reviews on participatory research approaches involving older adults was conducted to identify core principles and characteristics of effective participatory practices. Nineteen reviews included in this study were analyzed to address two primary research questions: What core principles and characteristics are commonly reported across different participatory approaches engaging older adults? In what ways are the limitations and impacts of collaborative research with older adults reported in the review literature?</p><p>Findings indicate that participatory research approaches, which emphasize the active involvement and empowerment of older adults, offer valuable insights and address significant gaps in traditional research paradigms; however, these approaches face numerous barriers and are not always reported in a&#xa0;transparent manner.</p><p>This article contributes to the field by highlighting key principles and characteristics of effective participatory practices and offering recommendations for enhancing transparency and reflexivity in reporting participatory research practices.</p>