ObjectiveTo evaluate the risk factors for healthcareassociated infection(HAI) in senile dementia patients, so as to adopt effective nursing measures to reduce the incidence of HAI. MethodsClinical data of 82 senile dementia patients aged≥60 years and hospitalized between January 2011 and June 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsOf 82 patients, 28 (34.15%) developed HAI. The main infection site was lower respiratory tract（n=15，53.57%）, followed by urinary tract(n=6，21.43%）. Univariate analysis revealed that risk factors for HAI in senile dementia patients were bedridden, long length of hospital stay , dysphagia,  indwelling urinary catheter, irrational use of antimicrobial agents, combined with tumor, and  hypoproteinemia (all P<0.05). The main isolated bacteria were gramnegative bacilli(n=40,62.50%) , the top three pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae（n=12，18.75%）, Escherichia coli（n=10，15.63%）, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa （n=8，12.50%）. ConclusionRealizing the risk factors and common pathogens of HAI in senile dementia patients is helpful for taking effective measures to prevent and control the incidence of HAI .