Introduction and aim. Eating properly, regardless of age, is an important factor affecting the general health status of a person. Over the course of a lifetime, the process of ingesting food can sustain certain irregularities leading to diverse disorders in the organism. The main problem connected with eating in older age is malnutrition. Malnutrition in geriatric age is a broad notion and does not refer only to lack of food or limitations in absorbing food. Malnutrition may result from many factors, such as: disorders of endocrine functions, digestion and absorption problems, multiple diseases, taking medications, mental disturbance or functional impairment. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of patients, geriatric ward and identify the causes of malnutrition. Material and methods. The study comprised 48 patients from a geriatric unit of the Provincial Psychiatric Hospital Dziekanka in Gniezno. The group included 28 females and 20 males at the age from 70 to 90 (two of the patients were older than 90). The nutritional status was assessed by means of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale. Results and conclusions. The examination of the entire group of elderly patients showed that 25 patients were threatened with malnutrition, 16 were malnourished and only 7 were adequately nourished. None of the patients was regarded as very well-nourished. The emergence of the risk of malnutrition and its existence in elderly people is related to multiple factors resulting from the aging process, bad eating habits, the presence of somatic disorders, mental disturbance and lack of independence in the preparation and consumption of food.

Key words: geriatric patients, assessment of nutritional status, the scale MNA, malnutrition, aging.