Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the participants (N = 243)

Number of joint contractures

1–6

Age (years)

65–97

Length of residency (months)

1–240

Body mass index (kg/m²)

12.12–34.73

Characteristics

n

%

Contracture sites

  Upper limbs

36

14.81

  Lower limbs

156

64.20

  Upper and lower limbs

51

21.99

Gender

  Male

156

64.20

  Female

87

35.80

Ancestry/ethnicity

  Min Nan

228

93.83

  Hakka

9

3.70

  Aboriginal

3

1.23

  Mainland Chinese

3

1.23

Education

  Primary and below

144

59.26

  Junior high

57

23.46

  Senior secondary

24

9.88

  Higher

9

3.70

  College/university and above

9

3.70

Occupation

  Military

0

0

  Management

6

2.47

  Professional

18

7.41

  Technical activities and assistant professional

0

0

  Office and administrative support

36

14.81

  Sales and service

0

0

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and animal husbandry

12

4.94

  Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

57

23.46

  Installation, maintenance, and repair

12

4.94

  Production and labourers

69

28.40

  Unemployed

33

13.58

Marital status

  Married

57

23.46

  Widowed

69

28.40

  Divorced

33

13.58

  Single

84

34.57

Religion

  Buddhism

60

24.69

  Taoism

138

56.79

  Christianity/Catholicism

24

9.88

  Atheist

15

6.17

  Others

6

2.47

Visitation frequency (weeks)

  0–1

174

71.60

  2–3

54

22.22

  4–5

9

3.70

  6–7

6

2.47

Chronic diseases

  Hypertension

75

30.86

  Diabetes

60

24.69

  Stroke

63

25.93

  Cardiovascular disease

36

14.81

  Cancer

0

0

  Degenerative arthritis

54

22.22

  Cataract

3

1.23

  Glaucoma

3

1.23