Table 2 Baseline characteristics of home care clients

Age, years (mean ± SD)

82.9 ± 7.3

82.4 ± 6.7

82.7 ± 7.0

84.2 ± 7.6

83.7 ± 7.0

81.8 ± 7.9

82.5 ± 7.1

Female

1930 (66.9)

352 (67.4)

313 (68.6)

351 (71.2)

292 (69.5)

286 (57.3)

336 (71.0)

Married/partner

815 (31.0)

179 (34.9)

71 (15.5)

124 (25.3)

129 (30.7)

203 (45.0)

109 (35.9)

Living alone

1656 (57.7)

252 (48.9)

369 (80.9)

359 (72.8)

256 (61.0)

82 (16.4)

338 (69.4)

At least one informal caregiver present

2455 (85.1)

482 (100.0)

381 (83.6)

292 (59.2)

417 (99.3)

496 (99.4)

387 (78.8)

Informal care, hours last three days (mean ± SD)

11.6 ± 16.4

N/D

5.9 ± 13.5

8.3 ± 14.0

8.8 ± 14.7

23.2 ± 17.2

7.9 ± 14.2

Professional care, hours last seven days (mean ± SD)

5.1 ± 6.1

8.5 ± 7.8

5.1 ± 5.2

7.5 ± 6.9

3.6 ± 3.8

1.0 ± 2.6

4.6 ± 4.7

Extensive ADL support (ALDH ≥3)

1181 (41.4)

419 (82.0)

60 (13.2)

238 (48.4)

35 (8.3)

388 (80.3)

41 (8.4)

Moderate to severe cognitive impairment (CPS ≥ 3)

503 (17.6)

91 (17.9)

49 (10.7)

135 (27.4)

40 (9.5)

179 (37.1)

9 (1.8)

Depressive symptoms (DRS ≥ 3)

595 (20.9)

131 (25.6)

55 (12.1)

114 (23.2)

73 (17.4)

106 (21.9)

116 (23.6)

Daily pain (Pain scale ≥ 2)

725 (25.3)

99 (19.6)

124 (27.3)

104 (21.1)

139 (33.1)

105 (21.0)

154 (31.4)

IADL performance scale (0–48) (mean ± SD)

28.9 ± 14.2

34.0 ± 10.7

26.4 ± 13.0

28.7 ± 14.9

23.8 ± 11.5

39.3 ± 11.7

17.0 ± 12.3

 Maximum assistance or total dependence in ≥ 4 out of 8 tasks

1085 (42.0)

301 (62.1)

173 (43.4)

191 (42.7)

154 (36.8)

188 (38.9)

78 (22.4)

 Maximum assistance or total dependence in all 8 tasks

390 (15.1)

71 (14.6)

19 (4.8)

69 (15.4)

10 (2.4)

215 (44.5)

6 (1.7)