Objectives: To explain the physical and mental health of older people based on their demographic variables.

Methods & Materials: A correlation design conducted through logistic regression. A demographic page and the Short Form (36) Health survey were administered by trained interviewers to 250 participants in Tehran, Iran in 2012. Participants were recruited based on a classified multi stage sampling procedure.

Results: Compared to women, men had better physical health. Low-income elderly had lower score in general, physical and mental health. Elderly living at home or with an extended family did not face the same general and physical health in comparison with their peers at nursing homes, though their mental health was similar. Marriage provided general, physical and mental health benefits for elderly whereas, high level of education were associated with physical and mental health. Being caregiver was related to better physical health while having caregiver was associated with better mental health. Age, income and education predicted both physical and mental health. Sex, mental health, marital status, being caregiver and having caregiver predicted physical health while physical health predicted mental health. All studied variables except sex and mental health predicted significantly place of residence.

Conclusion: Demographic variables predict health status of older people like other mental and physical variables. Policy makers should focus on variables predicting health status of elderly to have successful ageing in future.