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Objectives With the spread of COVID-19, the Netherlands implemented a policy to keep citizens physically distanced. We hypothesize that consequent reduction in the frequency of social contacts, personal losses, and the experience of general threats in society reduced well-being. Methods Data were collected from 1,679 Dutch community-dwelling participants aged 65–102 years comprising a longitudinal online panel. Social and emotional loneliness and mental health were measured in May 2020, that is, 2 months after the implementation of the measures, and earlier in October and November 2019. Results In this pandemic, the loneliness of older people increased, but mental health remained roughly stable. The policy measures for physical distancing did not cause much social isolation but personal losses, worries about the pandemic, and a decline in trust in societal institutions were associated with increased mental health problems and especially emotional loneliness. Discussion The consequences of long-term social isolation and well-being must be closely monitored.

BACKGROUND The ageing worldwide population involves an increase of multiple chronic diseases and the consequent demand for healthcare services by older people, thus challenging the healthcare systems’ sustainability and older people’s quality of life. In order to postpone older adults’ need for care, the promotion of healthy ageing is a key action that can be favored today by embodied conversational agents. Nevertheless, the role and benefit of this technology is still relatively ignored by the literature, especially when being applied to older workers and new retirees, and from a preventive perspective. OBJECTIVE This study wants to answer two research questions: 1) What are the user requirements of a virtual coaching based on an Embodied Conversational Agent for motivating older adults in transition to retirement to adopt a healthy lifestyle? 2) How could a virtual coaching system address the active and healthy ageing dimensions, especially during COVID-19 times? METHODS To answer the questions above, according to the User Centered Design approach, two-wave cross-national focus-groups with 60 end-users aged 55 and over and follow-up telephone interviews to 27 end-users were carried out in Austria, Italy and the Netherland between Spring 2019 and January 2021. Qualitative data were analysed through the Framework Analysis in order to highlight cross-country commonalities and national peculiarities. RESULTS End-users suggest the virtual coach motivates older workers and retirees to practice physical activity, maintain social contacts and provide them with practical activities to improve their mental and emotional well-being. It can be used every day based on users’ time, mood, family relationships and social condition. The embodied conversational agent should be reactive, customizable, expected to be expressive, sympathetic, not directive nor patronizing and its language should be appropriate, pleasant and motivating. The COVID-19 outbreak accelerated the acceptance of the system by increasing the users’ need for functions that boost community, physical and emotional well-being activities. CONCLUSIONS The study shows that the virtual coaching system can be one of the solutions that can best address the active and healthy ageing dimensions by suggesting activities that can improve individuals’ physical activity, mental well-being and socialisation. especially in the current worldwide epidemiological situation. Nevertheless, to be fully effective, it has to have a pleasant appearance and voice to motivate users without being patronising nor directive. Moreover, it should be customisable, yet non stigmatising, and should be able to adapt to the ageing process and to the evolution of the retirement transition.

Background: Retirement is recognized as a factor influencing the ageing process. Today, virtual health coaching systems can play a pivotal role in supporting older adults’ active and healthy ageing. This study wants to answer two research questions: (1) What are the user requirements of a virtual coach (VC) based on an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) for motivating older adults in transition to retirement to adopt a healthy lifestyle? (2) How could a VC address the active and healthy ageing dimensions, even during COVID-19 times? Methods: Two-wave focus-groups with 60 end-users aged 55 and over and 27 follow-up telephone interviews were carried out in Austria, Italy and the Netherlands in 2019–2020. Qualitative data were analysed by way of framework analysis. Results: End-users suggest the VC should motivate older workers and retirees to practice physical activity, maintain social contacts and emotional well-being. The ECA should be reactive, customizable, expressive, sympathetic, not directive nor patronizing, with a pleasant and motivating language. The COVID-19 outbreak increased the users’ need for functions boosting community relationships and promoting emotional well-being. Conclusions: the VC can address the active and healthy ageing paradigm by increasing the chances of doing low-cost healthy activities at any time and in any place.

The predictive value of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on intention and physical activity (PA) over time was examined. Data from the Aging Well and Healthily intervention program (targeting perceived behavioral control and attitude, not subjective norm) were analyzed, including pretest (T0), posttest (T1, except subjective norm) and 4–6 months follow-up (T2, PA outcomes only) (N = 387, M age 72 years). Structural equation modeling was used to test a TPB model. PA was measured subjectively using the Voorrips sports subscale (T0 and T2), items measured perceived increase in PA (T1), and adherence to exercises (T1 and T2). Model fit was good. The TPB explained variation in intention well (R2 .54–.60) and some PA behavior (R2 .13–.16). The intervention successfully got participants to exercise independent of the measured TPB concepts. More TPB studies in the context of interventions are needed.