Nutritional status and associated factors in elderly residents in nursing homes

To assess nutritional status in an elderly population living in nursing homes. This was a cross- sectional study of 199 elderly people 60 years old or above living in nursing homes in Arak، Iran. Data on nutrition was collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The findings showed that 19. 6% of elderly were suffering from malnutrition، 53. 3% were at risk of malnutrition، and in 27. 1% nutritional status was satisfactory. Of those suffering from malnutrition 77. 2% reported 1 to 3 chronic diseases or physical impairments. There were significant associations between nutrition and some health conditions (P<0. 001). The findings suggest that elderly people living in nursing home should be cared for their nutritional status.