Table 1 Characteristics of the study population

Age (years)^a

67 (39–84)

Gender

  Male

5

  Female

12

Country of birth

  Sweden

14

  Denmark

1

  Iceland

1

  Guiana

1

Level of education

  Primary school (< 9 years)

1

  Upper secondary school (≥ 9 years)

2

  Education at university level < 2 years

5

  Education at university level > 2 years

9

Employment

  Unemployed

1

  On retirement pension

10

Working

  Full time

2

  Part time

4

Family status

  Married

9

  Cohabiting

5

  Divorced/Widow

1/1

  Living alone

1

Relationship to the elderly person at the nursing home

  Wife

4

  Husband

1

  Daughter

5

  Son

4

  Grandchild

1

  Cohabitant

1

  Close friend/legal guardian

1

Number of languages reported to be understood

  < 2

4

  3–4

9

  ≥ 5

4

Languages relatives reported they could understand

  Swedish

17

  English

17

  German

10

  French

5

  Norwegian

5

  Danish

5

  Spanish

2

  Italian

2

  Icelandic

1

  Greek

1

  Latin

1

  Sign language

1