Objective To investigate the quality of life and its related factors and countermeasures for nursing home residents in Wuhan, to provide constructive advice for promoting quality of life of residents in nursing home. Methods A convenient sample of 292 nursing home residents from 22 nursing homes was enrolled in Wuhan from September 2012 to August 2013. Several questionnaires were used in this survey including demographic data such as modified version of the quality-of-life concerns in the end of life questionnaire (QOLC-E) and short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ). Results A total of 257 (88%) elderly acquired chronic disease, and the main disorder resulted from heart and lung system (51. 0%), sensory system (43. 2%), musculoskeletal and skin system (37. 0%), and nervous system (32. 9%). The total score of life quality was (3. 02 ± 0. 61), of which discomfort level of body, diet, care and support, negative mood, stress and sense of worth were (3. 49 ± 0. 47), (2. 87 ± 0. 82), (3. 13 ± 0. 53), (3. 13 ± 1.11), (3.16 ±1.14) and (2.33 ±1.36) respectively. The main influencing factors contained chronic disease, social support ( self-feeling of financial burden, feeling of passing into silence, social contact ) , and widowed. Elderly without chronic disease history, with high social support and non-widowed obtained a high score of life quality. Conclusions It is necessary for us to improve the quality of life for nursing home residents in Wuhan. Several factors affect the elderly quality of life, so the faculty of nursing homes, family members as well as the community workers should have responsibility to take appropriate and corresponding measures in many ways to help elderly improve their life quality.