Table 1 Socio-demographic and health characteristics intervention and control group at baseline

Age (%)

65–75 years

61

59

75+ years

39

41

Mean (sd) age (years)

73.6 (5.9)

73.8 (6.4)

Gender (%)

Male

44

47

Marital status (%)

Married/living together

71

69

Never married/never lived together

3

2

Divorced/separated

4

4

Widowed

23

25

Education (%)

Illiterate/primary education

18

18

Low

51

45

Intermediate

14

16

High

18

22

Difficulties managing on income (%)

12

10

One or more chronic diseases (%)

73

79

Mentally unhealthy (%)

14*

8*

Self-perceived health poor (%)

22

18

Difficulty BADL ^b (%)

4

4

Difficulty MADL ^b (%)

17

16

Difficulty IADL ^b (%)

33

34

Loneliness (%)

Not lonely (0-2)

51

55

Mildly lonely (3-8)

41

39

Severely lonely (9-10)

7

5

Very severely lonely (11)

2

2

Mean (sd) score loneliness

3.18 (3.13)

2.89 (2.89)

Social support

Total social support-Mean (sd)

28.31 (6.09)

28.62 (5.73)

Everyday social support

10.37 (2.10)

10.32 (1.86)

Support in problem situations

8.74 (2.54)

8.79 (2.45)

Esteem support

9.21 (2.38)

9.50 (2.29)

Doing voluntary work frequently (%)

16

21

Church attendance (%)

43*

60*