JUSTIFICATION. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS SHOW THAT HEALTH TEAMS WILL HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF CARING FOR OLDER PEOPLE, CONSIDERING THE IMPLICATION OF THE FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AS A VARIABLE OF EVALUATION OF THEIR HEALTH CONDITION. OBJECTIVE. TO DETERMINE THOSE CHARACTERISTICS IN OLDER PEOPLE THAT MAY INFLUENCE THEIR FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY, ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING. DESIGN. QUANTITATIVE, DESCRIPTIVE-CORRELATIONAL CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY. RESULTS. OUT OF 136 INDIVIDUALS STUDIED (61% FEMALE) AND AN AVERAGE AGE OF 73,28 ± 6,77 YEARS OLD, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING DEPEND SIGNIFICANTLY ON: LITERACY LEVEL (P=0,002), INSTRUCTION LEVEL (P=0,024), COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION (P=0,007), NUTRITIONAL STATUS (P=0,028) AND DEPRESSION (P=0,018). CONCLUSION. SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FACTORS RELATE TO THE FUNCTIONALITY OF OLDER PEOPLE. IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO CREATE PUBLIC POLICIES TO PROTECT THIS GROUP IN THE POPULATION, WITH A CROSS FUNCTIONAL AND SYSTEMIC APPROACH.