NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN LONG PERMANENCE INSTITUTIONS AVALIAÇÃO NUTRICIONAL DE IDOSOS RESIDENTES EM INSTITUIÇÕES DE LONGA PERMANÊNCIA EVALUACIÓN NUTRICIONAL DE ADULTOS MAYORES RESIDENTES EN INSTITUCIONES DE LARGA PERMANENCIA

Objective: Evaluate the nutritional state of elderly residents in Long Permanence Institutions. Method: descriptive and cross-sectional study with quantitative approach performed from March to April 2016, with a sample of 78 institutionalized elders. Data gathering occurred by applying the tool of a Mini Nutritional Evaluation during previously scheduled visits. Results: females prevailed, 44 (56%), and it has been identified that there are nutritional risks, with global evaluation average of 17.7 (SD ± 5.2). There was significant statistical association between malnutrition risk and the variables: sex, age and institutionalization time, with p < 0.05. Conclusion: institutionalization is consistent with a factor that is strongly associated with changes in the nutritional state of the elderly, which requires the adoption of adaptive measures by long permanence institutions for this population regarding adequate nutritional support, which is important to maintain health and quality of life.