Table 1 Demographic data of the older people in intervention and control groups (n = 84)

Gender

1.424

0.233

 Male

10(23.8)

15(35.7)

 Female

32(76.2)

27(64.3)

Age (year)

85.0(80.0–88.0)

85.0(78.8–87.0)

-0.372^b

0.710

Degree of education

0.664

0.415

 Junior high school and below

10(23.8)

7(16.7)

 High school and above

32(76.2)

35(83.3)

Length of living in nursing home

0.309

0.578

 Within 6 months

9(21.4)

7(16.7)

 More than 6 months

33(78.6)

35(83.3)

Have a spouse or not

0.233

0.629

 Yes

13(31.0)

11(26.2)

 No

29(69.0)

31(73.8)

Number of children

2(1.8-3.0)

2(2.0–3.0)

-1.392^b

0.164

Frequency of family visits

1.252

0.741

 < 1 /month

8(19.0)

7(16.7)

 1 /month

6(14.3)

8(19.0)

 2–4 /month

19(45.2)

15(35.7)

 5 and above/month

9(21.4)

12(28.6)

Number of illnesses

0.000

1.000

 1 and below

11(26.2)

11(26.2)

 2 and above

31(73.8)

31(73.8)

Take medicine or not

0.498^a

0.480

 Yes

39(92.9)

36(85.7)

 No

3(7.1)

6(14.3)

Participate in group activities

0.769

0.381

 Yes

21(50.0)

17(40.5)

 No

21(50.0)

25(59.5)

Source of income

0.081

0.776

 Retirement wages

34(81.0)

35(83.3)

 Others

8(19.0)

7(16.7)

Satisfaction with nursing staff

0.105

0.746

 Yes

37(88.1)

36(85.7)

 No

5(11.9)

6(14.3)

Satisfaction with nursing home

0.081

0.776

 Yes

34(81.0)

35(83.3)

 No

8(19.0)

7(16.7)