[Croatian guidelines for nutrition in the elderly, part II--clinical nutrition]

Malnutrition and sarcopenia are frequent in the hospitalized and institutionalized elderly. They have negative consequences on morbidity, mortality, function and quality of life. Enteral and parenteral nutrition are valid options in the malnourished elderly, both in the hospital and at home. Elderly patients share most indications and complications with adult patients, even though more focus needs to be put on function and quality of life than on mortality. In these guidelines we discuss the indications and special considerations of enteral and parenteral nutrition in geriatric patients as well as guidelines for clinical nutrition in three common pathologies in the elderly: decubital ulcers, dysphagia and dementia.