espanolEste articulo reporta los hallazgos del proyecto “Caracterizacion de ingesta de alimentos y la deglucion de los adultos mayores en un centro geriatrico de la ciudad de Cali, entre 2018-2019”. Se identifican las caracteristicas de la ingesta de alimentos y deglucion en adultos mayores. A raiz de las alteraciones que se presentan en el envejecimiento y que se influencian por factores condicionantes, intrinsecos como los geneticos, estado de salud y otros extrinsecos como los habitos en general, se puede presentar malnutricion y alteraciones en el proceso de la ingesta, alteraciones respiratorias e inclusive la muerte. El estudio es de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal (Rios Ramirez, 2017). Para este estudio se evaluan tres grupos: pacientes con alteraciones neurologicas 29 personas (36%), pacientes con alteraciones sensoriales 28 personas (35%) y pacientes sin ningun diagnostico 23 personas (29%). Con relacion al proceso de ingesta de alimentos y deglucion se encontro que hay masticacion adaptada, en el grupo neurologico, con 8 personas (22%). Succion debil en 12 personas del grupo neurologicos, (29%). Respecto al proceso de deglucion, en la clasificacion de la escala de FOIS, en el nivel 5, 1 mujer del grupo neurologico (4%) y en el nivel 6, 7 mujeres del grupo neurologico (26%). Se concluye que en la poblacion evaluada hay mas alteraciones en el proceso de la ingesta de alimentos en el grupo de los adultos con alteracion neurologica (100%) y de genero femenino (79%). La estructura mas comprometida fueron los dientes, ya que prevalece el edentulismo, la protesis dental mal adaptada y el 70% de la poblacion no hace uso de protesis dental. EnglishThis scientific article shows the results of the research project “Characterization of food intake and swallowing of the elderly in a geriatric center of the city of Cali, during the 2018-2019 period”. The characteristics of food intake and swallowing in older adults of a geriatric hospital were identified. Based on the multiple causes of alteration in the processes of food intake and swallowing that older adults present in their evolutionary process that involves the aging of the human being, influenced by numerous conditioning factors, intrinsic such as genetic, state of health and other extrinsic ones such as habits in general, which can therefore generate consequences not only of malnutrition but also of alterations in the process of intake, respiratory disturbances and even death. The research followed a quantitative approach, its type was descriptive and transversal (Rios Ramirez, 2017). For this research there were three groups evaluated: patients with neurological disorders 29 people with 36%, patients with sensory disorders 28 people with 35% and patients without any diagnosis 23 people with 29%. In relation to the process of food intake and swallowing it was found that there is adapted chewing, in the neurological group, with 8 people (22%). Weak suction in 12 people of the neurological group, (29%) was found. Regarding the swallowing process, based on the classification of the FOIS scale, at level 5, 1 woman from the neurological group (4%) and at level 6, 7 women from the neurological group (26%). As a conclusion, it was found that in the population evaluated there are more alterations in the process of food intake in the male group of adults with neurological alteration (100%) than in females (79%). The most compromised structure was the teeth, since edentulism prevails, dentures that were poorly adapted were usually evident and 70% of the population does not use dental prostheses