[Malnutrition In older people - Screening And Assessment]

Malnutrition is widespread in older people and if not treated leads to numerous negative clinical consequences, such as functional decline and in-hospital complications as well as increased health care costs. Prerequisites for a successful prevention and therapy of malnutrition are the early identification of persons at risk or those affected and a detailed assessment of their nutritional situation. Based on the current literature, this article provides an overview of important aspects considered in the screening and assessment of malnutrition in older people, such as the use of malnutrition screening tools, the application of diagnostic criteria, the quantification of energy and protein deficiencies, the identification of potential causes of malnutrition and the determination of individual preferences and resources.