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Aims: To evaluate the main differences and similarities between two groups of elderly residents from a philanthropic (SPAAN group) and a private (Israelita group) nursing homes in the city of Porto Alegre. Methods: The data were collected through an instrument applied by medical students. The questionnaire collected bio-psychosocial information of the elderly, who had to be cognitively able to answer and who agreed to participate on the study. Results: Fifty-five elderly subjects were interviewed. Twenty-five were from SPAAN group and thirty were from Israelita group. We have found similarities and differences between the two groups. In both groups women were more frequent. The most commonly reported socio-recreational activities in both groups were activities that did not require physical effort, such as chatting with friends (50%) and reading (48%). Reasons for institutionalization were also similar in both groups: lack of family support, widowhood, and loneliness (47%), followed by self-wiliness (38%). Walking was the most frequent type of physical activity in SPAAN group, while gymnastics was the most frequent one in Israelita group. Health (60%), family (49%), love (26%), and respect (26%) were the most important values for the interviewed. SPAAN group reported better self-assessed health status and lower frequency of physical impairments then the other group. Conclusions: This study enabled a better understanding of the elderly situation of two distinct nursing homes. Elderly subjects from philanthropic institutions seem to have more basic needs of housing and feeding and less physical impairments, while private institutionalized residents have specific health care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]