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The demographic phenomenon of population aging has brought some consequences, including a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment. Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare cognitive impairment and its risk factors between older persons living in the community and in nursing home in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed among 99 older adults living in the community and 49 nursing home residents. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: Older people living in the community showed a higher score on MMSE than those living in nursing home (p=0.044). Age, marital status, education level, and literacy status were significantly related to the cognitive function of older adults living in the community (p=0.003, p=0.007, p=0.005, p=0.001, respectively), while gender, education level, and literacy status were significantly related to that of nursing home residents (p=0.012, p=0.004, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Older adults living in the nursing home were more likely to experience cognitive decline than their counterparts in the community. Factors associated with cognitive decline differ between community-dwelling older adults and nursing home residents. RESUMO O fenômeno demográfico do envelhecimento da população trouxe algumas consequências, incluindo uma maior prevalência de comprometimento cognitivo. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar o comprometimento cognitivo e seus fatores de risco entre os idosos que vivem na comunidade e no lar de idosos na Indonésia. Métodos: Um estudo transversal foi empregado entre 99 idosos que vivem na comunidade e 49 residentes de casa de repouso. A função cognitiva foi avaliada usando o Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Resultados: Os idosos que vivem na comunidade mostraram uma pontuação mais alta no MMSE do que aqueles que vivem em casa de repouso (p=0,044). Idade, estado civil, nível de educação e alfabetização estavam significativamente relacionados à função cognitiva de idosos que vivem na comunidade (p=0,003, p=0,007, p=0,005, p=0,001, respectivamente), enquanto gênero, nível educacional e alfabetização estavam significativamente relacionados aos idosos residentes da casa de repouso (p=0,012, p=0,004, p=0,001, respectivamente). Conclusões: Os idosos que vivem na casa de repouso tinham maior probabilidade de experimentar um declínio cognitivo do que seus colegas na comunidade. Os fatores associados ao declínio cognitivo diferem entre os idosos que habitam a comunidade e os residentes da casa de repouso.

Falls are a complex problem, given their multifactorial nature, the comorbidities involved, and due to the dependency of older persons living in nursing homes. Risk, fear of falling, falls themselves, and their recurrence are the main factors behind fragility fractures, lack of independence, and increases in pain prevalence, and other comorbidities in older populations. The objectives of the present quantitative and longitudinal study were: (a) to characterize the cognitive state and fall frequency of older persons living in nursing homes, (b) to analyze the relationship between cognitive status and some fall risk factors, and (c) to associate cognitive decline, gait ability, and muscle strength of the examined institutionalized older persons with fall occurrence and recurrence over 12 months. The participants were 204 older persons who lived in Portuguese nursing homes, and data were collected from January 2019 to February 2020 by consulting medical records and applying the following instruments: the Mini-Mental State Examination, Timed Up and Go Test, and Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing Scale. Fall prevalence, assessed in two periods, 12 months apart, was similar in both samples (with and without cognitive decline) and close to 42%, and the annual recurrence rate was 38.3%. Older persons with no cognitive decline showed an association between gait speed and occurrence of first fall and recurrent fall (p &lt, 0.05). Muscle strength and use of gait aid devices were not related to falls and their recurrence, regardless of mental state.