Nutritional Status and Its Related Factors among Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Background: Elderly population are at higher risk of malnutrition that can increase the morbidity and mortality among them. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and the related factors among elderly nursing home residents.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled 1062 (439 males, 623 females) elderly living in the elderly nursing home residents in Mashad, Iran. The nutritional status of participants was assessed through a Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form scale and Nutrition Day questionnaires.Results: Among the study participants, 64 (18.5%) were malnourished,142 (31.9%) were at risk of malnutrition and 94 (49.6%) had no malnutrition. Moreover, elderly males were more susceptible to malnutrition (p=0.03). Furthermore, reduced food intake in the past three months was significantly correlated with malnutrition in elderly participants (p=0.001). Also, the lower number of nurses and people who care about nutritional status was significantly associated with the higher malnutrition rate in elderly participants (p=0.02, p=0.03, respectively).Conclusion: The present study showed that more than half of the elderly population living in elderly nursing homes were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.