Table 1 Description of the included older participants (N = 8,508)

Economic status by municipality

Low income

1941 (22.8%)

Medium income

4023 (47.3%)

High income

2544 (29.9%)

Health insurance

Compulsory

4671 (54.9%)

Private ^a

3837 (45.1%)

Other type of government support ^b

532 (6.3%)

Use of formal care

773 (9.1%)

Use of professional home care support

Nursing care at home

577 (6.8%)

Help with housework

1299 (15.3%)

Meal service

217 (2.6%)

Transport service

433 (5.1%)

Flat for older adults

80 (0.9%)

Age

81 [78–85]

75–80

4065 (47.8%)

81–85

2590 (30.4%)

> 85

1853 (21.8%)

Sex

Female

4408 (51.8%)

Nationality

Switzerland

6845 (80.5%)

Germany

820 (9.6%)

France

96 (1.1%)

Other

747 (8.8%)

German speaking abilities

Swiss German as mother tongue

6636 (78.0%)

German as mother tongue

1053 (12.4%)

Good German

718 (8.4%)

Bad German

101 (1.2%)

Education ^c

Less than primary education

81 (1.0%)

Primary education

1253 (14.7%)

Secondary education

4707 (55.3%)

Tertiary education

2076 (24.4%)

Other

391 (4.6%)

Unmet needs for home support

355 (4.2%)

Level of physical activity ^d

Less than optimal

2946 (34.6%)

Optimal

5562 (65.4%)

Chronic alcohol consumption

High-risk

3301 (38.8%)

Low-risk

5207 (61.2%)

Smoking status

Never smoked

4746 (55.8%)

Current consumer

591 (6.9%)

Past consumer

3171 (37.3%)

Mental Health ^e

Psychological domain (GFI)

Feeling depressed

1298 (15.3%)

Feeling anxious

1284(15.1%)

Social domain (GFI)

Feeling empty

2007 (23.6%)

Feeling abandoned

890 (10.5%)

Missing company of others

3007 (35.3%)

Self-perceived health status scores (EQ-5D VAS) ^f

80 [70–85]

0–25

65 (0.8%)

26–50

956 (11.2%)

51–75

2831 (33.3%)

76–100

4656 (54.7%)

Individual income

Below threshold ^g

303 (3.6%)

Living situation

Living alone

3059 (36.0%)

Informal care by family or friends

4271 (50.2%)

Level of dependency (IADL scale) ^h

8.0 [7.0–8.0]

0–2

78 (0.9%)

3–4

161 (1.9%)

5–6

831 (9.8%)

7–8

7438 (87.4%)