en <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#f79646">Aims:</span></span></span></b> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:">Malnutrition among older adults is a significant public health issue, with geriatric individuals often at higher risk. This study aimed to compare the nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults with those residing in geriatric homes.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#f79646">Instrument & Methods:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:"> This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Babil Province, Iraq, in </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:">2025, </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:">on 200 participants (100 community-dwelling and 100 geriatric home residents) aged 60 years or older. Nutritional status was assessed using the mini nutritional assessment device, along with demographic and anthropometric data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis employed to identify predictors of malnutrition.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#f79646">Findings:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:"> Significant differences were observed between the two groups. Community-dwelling older adults had better nutritional status, with 60% categorized as having normal nutrition compared to 30% in geriatric homes (p<0.001). Geriatric home residents exhibited higher rates of malnutrition (20% vs. 10%, p=0.047), lower body mass index (22.8&plusmn;3.5 vs. 24.6&plusmn;3.1, p=0.018), and decreased meal frequency (2.4&plusmn;0.6 vs. 3.1&plusmn;0.5 meals/day, p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified living in geriatric homes, low body mass index, recent weight loss, and infrequent meal frequency as significant predictors of malnutrition.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#f79646">Conclusion:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span cambria="" style="font-family:"> Geriatric home residents are at greater risk of malnutrition compared to community-dwelling older adults. </span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp; Nutritional Status,Old Age Homes,Community Dwelling,Malnutrition,Mini Nutritional Assessment, 83 87 http://ijwph.daneshafarand.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2288-1&slc_lang=en&sid=3 S.M. Niazy 1003194753284600379742 1003194753284600379742 No Department of Community, Medical-Technical Institute, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq Q.A.K. Al-Eqabi 1003194753284600379743 1003194753284600379743 No Department of Community, Medical-Technical Institute, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq M.M. Radhi 1003194753284600379655 1003194753284600379655 Yes Department of Community Health Techniques, College of Health & Medical Techniques-Kufa, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Najaf, Iraq G.D.M. AL-Thabhawee 1003194753284600379654 1003194753284600379654 No Department of Community Health Techniques, College of Health & Medical Techniques-Kufa, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Najaf, Iraq