An investigation of healthy aging among older adults in nursing homes: A cross-sectional study

AIM: This cross-sectional study examined healthy ageing and associated factors among 249 older adults aged 65 years and above residing in nursing homes in Istanbul, Türkiye. METHODS: Data were collected using the "Personal Information Form," "Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination," "Katz Daily Life Activity Index," "Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form," "Satisfaction with Life Scale," and "Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly." Analyses included chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Results showed a healthy ageing rate of 38.5 %. Significant predictors included cardiovascular diseases, fear of falling, number of medications, and life satisfaction. Cardiovascular diseases decreased healthy ageing odds by 3.015 times, while fear of falling reduced them by 0.516 times. Conversely, higher life satisfaction increased healthy ageing by 0.886 times. CONCLUSIONS: Only 4 out of 10 elderly met the criteria for healthy ageing. Interventions should focus on promoting physical activity, psychological and social support, chronic disease management, and personalized care to enhance healthy ageing among older adults in Türkiye.