No abstract

In order to support community-dwelling older adults with healthy eating behaviours, Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) may be an effective and engaging medium. However, ECAs have not yet been found to be capable of engendering behaviour change, which is partly attributed to the absence of a match with users' practices, needs and preferences. Hence, we describe a co-design process with older adults that informs both the content and the appearance of an ECA. Data was gathered through three consecutive iterations of co-design sessions with two groups of community-dwelling older adults in the Netherlands. Prior to the first session, participants completed a seven-day lifestyle diary. This study adds knowledge on the meaning of healthy eating, as well as on specific barriers to, and opportunities for, giving advice using an ECA in this target group. Furthermore, we translate this knowledge into general advice for designing an ECA in the context of health behaviour change, while reflecting on a co-design process with older adults.

Background Loss of a spouse is a frequent occurrence in later life. While most older adults successfully process this loss and will return to a normal life, about 10% of the individuals are unable to cope, and progress to prolonged grief (PG). PG, in turn, can result in mental and physical problems including poor sleep, cardiovascular problems, depression, and suicidal tendencies. Objective LEAVES (optimizing the mentaL health and resiliencE of older Adults that haVe lost thEir spouSe via blended, online therapy) is an online bereavement program that will support the prevention and treatment of PG, so that elderly mourners can continue to lead an active, meaningful, and dignified life. LEAVES will cater to secondary end users (eg, family, informal caregivers) by reducing stress. Methods LEAVES will help older adults to process the loss of a spouse in an online environment, which consists of (1) an existing online grief self-help program LIVIA, (2) the Before You Leave program that allows for storing personal memories, (3) a virtual agent platform, and (4) an accessible front-end design. LEAVES can detect persons at risk for complications, reveal negative trends in their emotional life, and act to counter such trends. The service relies on online support whenever possible but is blended with telephone or face-to-face counseling when necessary. Results The project will take place between February 2020 and January 2023 and includes a real-life evaluation in which 315 end users will use the service across 3 countries (the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland). The evaluation of LEAVES will focus on clinical effect, its business case, and technology acceptance. The results will pave the way for smooth integration into existing care paths and reimbursement schemes. Conclusions The LEAVES service aims to soften the mourning process, prevents depression or social isolation, strengthens widow(er)s resilience and well-being, and quickens one’s return to societal participation. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/19344

Geïnspireerd door gerontologische theorieën over sociaal en emotioneel ouder worden, bestudeerden we in dit onderzoek het ICT-gebruik door ouderen met cognitieve beperkingen. Door middel van kwalitatieve interviews (N=30) met ouderen met cognitieve beperkingen en hun naasten, kregen we een gedetailleerd beeld van de rol van ICT in hun dagelijks leven. Ten eerste lieten onze data zien dat ouderen met cognitieve beperkingen ICT gebruikten om hun sociaal en emotioneel welbevinden te vergroten. Het ging daarbij om sociale interactie, het zich verbonden voelen met anderen, hobby’s of alledaagse bezigheden. Ten tweede bood ons onderzoek inzicht in de strategieën die ouderen toepasten wanneer het gebruik van ICT niet (meer) vanzelf ging. Het sociale netwerk speelde daarbij een belangrijke rol. Wanneer het netwerk desgevraagd of proactief hulp bood, vergrootte dit gevoelens van controle door de oudere. Dit gold ook voor het indirect gebruik van ICT, waarbij iemand uit het sociaal netwerk de apparaten bediende. De oudere ICT-gebruik ontzeggen, ondermijnde juist het gevoel van controle. De bevindingen geven inzicht in hoe de potentie van ICT voor deze doelgroep kan worden benut. We sluiten af met aanbevelingen voor de praktijk.