Objectives: To evaluate the cognitive function level, depression, and quality of life of elderly people living in a nursing home.

Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at the Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the Elderly in Adana, Turkey between May 1 and August 1, 2016. The participants included 118 elderly people chosen using a simple random sampling method. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Standardized Mini Mental State Exam, Geriatric Depression Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD module. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 (IBM, SPSS, Turkey). Results: Of all the participants, 36.4%(n= 43) were female, 63.6%(n= 75) were male, and average age was 74.08±8.23 years. The participants’ Standardized Mini Mental State Exam mean score was 20.37±7.08, Geriatric Depression Scale mean score was 14.92±4.29, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD module mean score was 69.76±11.54. There was a negative, significant relationship between the Standardized Mini Mental State Exam and Geriatric Depression Scale scores. A positive relationship was found between the World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD module total scores and the autonomy, past-resent-future activities, social participation, and intimacy subscores. A negative relationship was found between the Geriatric Depression Scale scores and World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD module total scores.

Conclusion: More than half of the elderly people living in the nursing home experienced cognitive deterioration and depression. In addition, cognitive state, depression, and quality of life significantly correlated with each other.