Abstract:
An elderly person is someone who reached age 60 or above. The changes in physiology function can
reduce the food absorption which resulted in lower nutrition status for elderly people. Fatmah, 2010
explained that 3.4% elderly people in Indonesia who live in the city suffer for low nutrition is 28.3%,
excess weight is 6.7%, obesity is 3.4% and ideal weight is 4.2%. Some factors which caused nutrition
problems according Fatmah (2010) are disturbance of food taste, malfunction of disgestion, food
consumption habit, lifestyle, some diseases and knowledge. This research aims to know the
relationship among, knowledge factor, gender, and smoking habit towards the nutrition status on
elderly people in “Posyandu”of Werdatama in Tembilahan in 2014. This research is analytic
quantitative with cross-sectional design. The total sample was 94 by using quota sampling method.
The research was hold on June 2014 in “Posyandu”of Werdatama Tembilahan. The collecting of data
using questioner (primary data). The data was analysised by using chi-square test. The research result
showed that gender have relationship toward nutrition status on elderly by score of P value 0.005
(OR= 4,196 (CI 95% 1,475-11,935)), smoking habit have relationship toward nutrition status on
elderly person by score of P value 0.002 (OR= 4,750 (CI 95% 1,701-13,263)) and there have
relationship between knowledge toward status nutrition on elderly person by score of P value 0.006
(OR=4,227 (CI 95% 1,441-12,400). For that reason, It is suggested to the health worker to improve
their services on elderly posyandu and motivate the male elderly people to actively participate in
posyandu activity as well as counseling regarding the nutrition status of elderly
