Objective To investigate the relevant factors for anemia in elderly hospice inpatients in order to facilitate better preventation and control. Methods Clinical data of the hospice inpatients from Department of Internal Medicine in our hospital from May 2010 to December 2012 were collected in this study. A retrospective investigation was carried out on the 86 cases with anemia (experimental group) and 224 cases without anemia (control group). Results Multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that malignant tumors [odds ratio (OR)＝4.936; 95% confidence interval (CI)＝1.769 to 13.769), cardio-cerebral diseases (OR＝3.445; 95%CI＝1.267 to 9.368), antibiotic use (OR＝3.433; 95%CI＝2.049 to 5.752), hypoalbuminemia (OR＝3.385; 95%CI＝1.378 to 8.315), diabetes mellitus (OR＝3.064; 95%CI＝1.233 to 7.611), age (OR＝1.172; 95%CI＝1.105 to 1.244), length of stay in hospital (OR＝1.033; 95%CI＝1.021 to 1.045), nutrition support method (OR＝0.488; 95%CI＝0.267 to 0.892) were significant for anemia in elderly hospice inpatients (P＜0.05). Conclusions Anemia is quite common in the elderly hospice inpatients. Malignant tumor, hypoalbuminemia, prolonged hospitalization, senior age, and chronic comorbidity (cardio-cerebral diseases and/or diabetes mellitus) are risk factors for occurrence of anemia. Strengthening nutrition support will be helpful for elderly hospice inpatients to prevent anemia.