Introduction. Aging is a common and natural process, which involve slower physical activity, thus causing a decrease in the functional capacity and hinder in adaptation to environmental changes. The loss of motor abilities is often accompanied by lower moods and depressive disorders. Increasing function al deficits often lead to total dependence on caregivers. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the functional capacity and the incidence of depression among elderly people with regard to sociodemographic factors. Material and methods. This survey-based study was performed in the primary care center ‘Wysoczańscy’ in Gryfice. A group of respondents consisted of 274 patients over 65 years of age. The research instruments employed in the study were: a self-developed questionnaire, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, the Yesavage the 4-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results. Analysis based on the IADL scale revealed that on average the seniors needed assistance with approximately three out of eight activities analyzed in the study. The risk of depression was statistically significantly related to the seniors’ sex (r=0.21; p=0.0005), age (r=0.024; p=0.0000), education (r=-0.18; p=0.0027), marital status (r=0.3; p=0.0000), self-reported housing situation (r=-0.21; p=0.0006) and self-reported health status (r=0.53; p=0.0000). Conclusions. 1) With age seniors lost their ability to more complex activities of daily living. 2) Sociodemographic factors such as sex, age, education, marital status, self-reported housing situation and health status contributed to the risk of depression.

Key words: functional capacity, depression, senior.