To become old and live in an institution could mean that the habits and routines they have obtained during their lifetime and are used to may become changed. There are fixed norms and rules which the elderly more or less have to adjust to. The aim of this study was to describe how nursing staff attitudes influence on elderly care takers meal situation. The method of this study was a literature review. The result showed that norms and rules not always are adjusted to caretakers’ wishes and needs. The work situation influenced the elderly in such ways that they saw that the staff were stressed and therefore withheld to express their wishes. The result showed that the nursing staff tried to effective their work which lead to inadequate nursing. The nursing staff attitudes may depend on stress and stressful work situations. The nursing staff may not have the time to obtain the knowledge they should have about every caretaker’s wishes and habits.