Table 1 Summary of results concerning intervention type, aim, context and population of included studies in the field of health-promoting and preventive interventions for community dwelling older people in the Nordic countries from inception to 2019

 Beyer et al. 2007 [32]

Fall prevention/single component

Assess effects of a multidimensional training (resistance and balance exercise) intervention on physiological, functional and psychological conditions.

Denmark, Copenhagen

Setting: gym

Women 70–90 years (n = 65)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: had suffered a fall that consequently required attention in an emergency room but not hospitalization, able to come to the training facility, no fractures of the lower extremities within the last six months, no neurological diseases, ability to understand Danish, a score of > 24 on MMSE.

 Englund et al. 2005 [33]

Fall prevention/single component

Determine benefits of weight-bearing exercise on bone mineral density and neuromuscular function.

Sweden, Umeå

Setting: Umea University, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation

Women 66–87 years (n = 48)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: community dwelling older people, no dementia, no current smoking, no current hormone replacement therapy, not using walking aid, no cardiovascular disease, no functional disability.

 Fahlstrom et al. 2018 [34]

Fall prevention/single component

Determine whether nursing assistants can prevent falls by supervising individuals with a history of falling in performing an individually designed home exercise programme.

Sweden, Örebro

Setting: home-based

Older people ≥65 years (n = 148)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: walk independently, at least one fall during the last 12 months, able to communicate and corporate, no mental disorder, no dementia, no cancer.

 Halvarsson et al. 2011 [35]

Fall prevention/single component

Evaluate effects of a progressive/specific balance training programme on fear of falling, step execution and gait, self-assessed function.

Sweden, Stockholm

Setting: Krolinska University Hospital, Department of Physiotherapy

Older people 67–93 years (n = 59)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: self-perceived balance deficit and fear of falling, ability to walk unaided indoors, a score of ≥24 on MMSE, no severe impaired vision or hearing, no severe cancer, no severe pain, no neurological disease or damage with symptoms, no dizziness requiring medical care or heart and respiratory problems.

 Helbostad et al. 2004 [36]

Fall prevention/ single component

Test effects of two exercise regimes on HRQoL and ambulatory capacity.

Norway, Trondheim

Setting: home-based and group format

Older people ≥75 years (n = 77)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: at least one fall during the last year, use walking aid either indoor or outdoor, not exercising more than once per week, no cognitive impairment, no terminal illness.

 Johansson et al. 2015 [37]

Fall prevention/multifactorial ^b

Evaluate effectiveness/ efficacy on the experiences of participation and autonomy, risk of falls, fear of falling.

Sweden, Stockholm

Setting: primary healthcare unit

Older people ≥65 years (n = 131)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: one or more accidental fall during the last year and/or experienced fall incidents and/or experienced fear of falling, no cognitive impairments, no psychiatric problems, no considerable difficulties in understanding and speaking Swedish.

 Jorgensen et al. 2013 [38]

Fall prevention /single component

Determine motivational effects and effectiveness on mechanical lower limb muscle function, static postural balance, and functional performance.

Denmark, Aalborg

Setting: Geriatric Research Clinic-Aalborg Hospital

Older people 69–81 years (n = 58)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: poor to average self-reported balance, no history of acute illness within the previous three weeks, no orthopedic surgery within the previous 6 months, no acute illness within the previous 3 weeks, capable of seeing visual features on the TV screen.

 Karinkanta et al. 2007 [10]

Fall prevention /single component

Evaluate the specific effects of resistance training, balance-jumping training, and their combination on physical functioning and bone strength.

Finland, Tampere

Setting: UKK institute Finland (The centre for health promotion research) and fitness centre

Older people 70–78 year (n = 149)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: clinically healthy, good self-rated physical functioning, not exercising more than twice a week, not lower than − 2.5 for the T-score for femoral neck BMD.

 Kyrdalen et al. 2013 [39]

Fall prevention/single component

Compare Otago Exercise programme home training vs. group training on functional balance, muscle strength, mobility, fall efficacy, self-reported health.

Norway, 11 communities in the southeast of the country

Setting: home-based and group format

Older people of mean age 82.5 (n = 125)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: fall prone seniors referred to a Falls Outpatient Clinic and living a maximum distance of 45 km from the hospital, a score of > 23/30 on the MMSE, able to walk without support from another person.

 Palvanen et al. 2014 [17]

Fall prevention/multifactorial

Assess effects of a multifactorial intervention provided at a centre-based falls clinic on rates of falls and injurious falls.

Finland, Lappeenranta and Tampere

Setting: Fall Chaos Clinic

Older people ≥70 years (n = 1314)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: not dementia, no terminal illness or disability which prevented physical activity and training and at least one of the following risk factors: problems in mobility and everyday function, 3 or more falls during the last 12 months, previous facture after the age of 50, an osteoporotic fracture.

 Poulstrup et al. 2000 [40]

Fall prevention/multi-component ^c

Evaluate effects of a community-based intervention on reducing numbers of fall related injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Denmark, county of Velje, five municipalities

Setting: home-based and senior organizations

All older people ≥65 years from 9 municipalities (n = 24,365)

 Sjösten et al. 2007 [41]

Fall prevention/ multifactorial

Report predictors of adherence and effects of an individually tailored intervention on health-related quality of life, incidence of falls, depressive symptoms, maximal isometric strength, postural balance.

Finland, Pori

Setting: home-based and group meetings

Older people ≥65 years (n = 591). Sample size differs in two of the seven total related studies. Older people ≥65 years (n = 513) and women ≥65 years (n = 417).

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: have fallen at least once in the previous year, able to walk 10 m’ independently.

 Uusi-Rasi et al. 2012 [42]

Fall prevention/multi-component

Evaluate effects of an exercise and vitamin D intervention in reducing falls and injurious falls.

Finland, Tampere

Setting: exercise halls and gyms

Women 70–80 years (n = 409)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: have fallen at least once in the previous years, did not use vitamin D supplements and no contradictions to exercise, were in good health and physical condition, not exercising more than 2 h per week, no regular use of vitamin D or calcium + vitamin D supplements, no recent fracture (during preceding 12 months), no contraindication or inability to participate in the exercise program, no marked decline in basic ADL, no cognitive impairments; no primary hyperthyroidism, no degenerative conditions.

 Dahlin-Ivanoff et al. 2010 [43]

Health promotion/multi-component

Compare effects of 1) Multi-professional educational senior meetings + home visit with 2) home visit and

3) a control group on delaying deterioration, physical performance, fear of falling, physical activity, ADL, quality of life.

Sweden, Gothenburg

Setting: home-based and elderly community centres

Older people ≥80 years (n = 459)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: at risk to develop frailty, independent in ADL, independent of home help services, cognitively intact.

 Gustafsson et al. 2015 [44]

Health promotion/multi-component

Evaluate effects of a person-centred intervention on independence on ADL, self-rated health, social support, social network, loneliness, fear of falling, frailty indicators.

Sweden, Gothenburg

Setting: home-based and elderly community centres

Older people ≥70 years (n = 131)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: emigrated to Sweden from Finland or Western Balkan region, independent of help from another person in ADL-staircase, no impaired cognition (scored> 80% of MMSE).

 Möller et al. 2014 [18]

Health promotion/Fall prevention/multifactorial

Evaluate effects of a case management intervention on participation and leisure activities, loneliness, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms, self-reported- falls and injurious falls.

Sweden, Eslöv

Setting: collaboration with municipality healthcare, social service, primary care and university hospital

Older people ≥65 years (n = 153).

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: often in need of long-term care, dependent on ADL (two or more), admitted to hospital at least twice or have had four visits in the previous year, a score of ≥25 on MMSE, no cognitive impairment, able to communicate verbally.

 Pynnonen et al. 2018 [45]

Promotion of mental wellbeing/ multi-component

Examine effects of a social intervention on depressive symptoms, melancholy, loneliness, and perceived togetherness.

Finland, Jyväskylä

Setting: municipal gym, city library, health care centre

Older people 75–79 years (n = 257)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: feeling loneliness, melancholy or depressive mood at least sometimes, a score of > 21 on MMSE, willing to participate in the study

 Rydwik et al. 2008 [46]

Health promotion/disability prevention/multifactorial

Analyse effects of a nutritional and physical training intervention on energy intake, resting metabolic rate, body composition, self-assessed function, aerobic capacity.

Sweden, Stockholm

Setting: elderly research centre

Older people ≥75 years (n = 96)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: frail elderly defined as unintentional weight loss, low physical activity level, BMI < 30 kg/m², can walk, no recent cardiac problems requiring hospital care, no hip fracture or surgery during the last six months, no current cancer treatment, no stroke within the last two year and a score of > 7 on MMSE.

 Sundsli et al. 2014 [16]

Promotion of mental wellbeing/ single component

Evaluate effects of a telephone-based intervention on self-reported perceived health, mental health, sense of coherence, self-care ability, and self-care agency.

Norway, urban areas in the south of the country

Setting: home-based

Older people ≥75 years (n = 30)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: respondents from a larger study living in urban areas in southern Norway.

 Zingmark et al. 2014 [8]

Occupation focused health promotion/multi-component

Evaluate different occupation-focused interventions (individual intervention, discussion group, activity group) on leisure engagement and ADL. Evaluate cost-effectiveness.

Sweden, Umeå

Setting: community

meeting centre and home-based

Older people 77–82 years (n = 177)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: single living without home help in urban areas in northern Sweden, no cognitive or communication problems.

 Kekalainen et al. 2018 [47]

Physical activity promotion/single component

Investigate effects of a supervised progressive resistance training (RT) intervention on motivational and volitional characteristics related to exercise, and if changes in these characteristics predict self- directed continuation of resistance training 1 year after the intervention.

Finland, Jyväskylä

Setting: Faculty of Sport and health Sciences gym

Older people 65–75 years (n = 106)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: leisure-time aerobic exercise less than 3 h/wk., no previous regular RT experience, BMI < 37, no previous testosterone-altering treatment, no serious cardiovascular disease, no medication related to the neuromuscular or endocrine system, capability to walk without walking aid and non-smoker.

 Niemela et al. 2011 [48]

Physical activity promotion/single component

Evaluate effects of a homebased rocking-chair intervention on physical performance.

Finland, Kauiniala

Setting: home-based

Women 73–87 years (n = 51).

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: females, able to follow instructions for testing and training, and informed consent to participate. Not undergoing: hip, knee, eye, stomach surgery, acute illness.

 Vestergaard et al. 2008 [49]

Physical activity promotion/single component

Evaluate effects of a home-based video exercise programme on physiological performance, functional capacity and health-related quality of life.

Denmark, four municipalities

Setting: home-based

Women ≥75 years (n = 61)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: unable to get outdoors without help from another person or walking aid, able to get out of bed or chair, able to communicate through phone, able to follow video exercises on screen, no involvement in regular physical program, not involved in regular physical activity.

 Von Bonsdorff et al. 2008 [50]

Physical activity promotion/multi-component

Evaluate effects of physical activity counselling on instrumental activity of daily living and mobility limitations.

Finland, Jyväskylä

Setting: primary care-based, the centre for health and social services and the department of sports and physical activity services

Older people 75–81 years (n = 632)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: walk 500 m without assistance, moderately physically active or sedentary (at most 4 h of walking or 2 h of exercise weekly), a score of > 21 on MMSE, no medical contraindication for physical activity.

 Lihavainen et al. 2012 [51]

Disability prevention/multifactorial

Study the effects of a comprehensive geriatric intervention on physical performance.

Finland, Kuopio

Setting: gym

Older people 75–98 years (n = 668)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: all residents of Kuopio who were 75-years old and older, able to participate in the physical performance measures, no cognitive or physical impairment.

 Luukinen et al. 2006 [52]

Disability prevention/ multifactorial

Evaluate effects of an exercise oriented intervention (home exercise, walking exercise, group activities or self-care exercise) in preventing disability and falls.

Finland, Oulu

Setting: home-based or group format or in combination

Older people ≥85 years (n = 486)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: at least one risk factor for disability, e.g. recurrent falling during the preceding year, frequent feelings of loneliness, poor self-rated health, depression, low cognitive status, impaired vision, impaired hearing, impaired balance, slow walking speed, and impaired ability to stand up from a chair.

 Vass et al. 2002 [53]

Functional decline prevention/multi-component

Evaluate effects of a community-based educational programme to home visitors and general practitioners on older people’s active life expectancy, functional ability, mortality.

Denmark, 34 communities (municipalities)

Setting: primary care

Older people 75–80 years (n = 4060)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria: citizens aged 75 year or older living in communities offering preventive home visits according to the law (2 annual visits), general practitioners should be able to participate in the preventive program, the primary care should have possibility to provide fair or good rehabilitation to citizens living in these communities.