Smokers are twice as likely to end up in a nursing home

Smoking, and the quality of diet, sleep, sitting and physical activity greatly affects your independence as an older person. Photo: Getty

Adults over 60 who smoked were twice as likely to be admitted earlier to a nursing home, according to researchers from the University of Sydney.

Their New South Wales-based study followed more than 127,000 people aged over 60 for about 10 years.