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Introduction: Aging is a gradual and inevitable process, triggering organic wear, changes in cultural, social and emotional aspects. Mobility, the individual's ability to travel, is a component of physical function that is extremely important for the performance of ADL and the maintenance of their independence. Objective: Evaluate functional capacity, motor limitations and their influence on the degree of independence and the quality of life of institutionalized elderly in the city of Bauru/SP. Methods: The sample consisted of 39 elderly people, living in two long-term institutions. For quality of life, the SF-36 questionnaire was used, for functional capacity as muscle tone and trophism was used in the Tinetti Scale through vestibular conditions and gait abnormality. We also used the Katz Index questionnaire, which evaluates the ADLs. Results: Of the 39 elderly, 19 (48.72%) belonged to the male gender, 20 (51.28%) were of the female gender. When assessing quality of life, there was a significant relationship between the degree of dependence and quality of life, the mental health domain presented the highest mean (70.15%), followed by pain with (67.33%), the domain Which presented lower expressiveness with a mean of (28.85%) was functional capacity. When evaluating functional capacity, it was observed that 26 (66.67%) were independent, 3 (7.69%) were moderate dependents and 10 (25.64%) were dependent. In relation to the Tinetti scale, the average of (4.36%) for balance and (2.21%) for gait, totaling an average of (6.71%), that is, indicative of a greater propensity for falls. Conclusion: The prevention of chronic diseases, degenerative diseases, functional capacity and health care of elderly dependents and caregiver support represent new challenges for the health system installed in Brazil. There is evidence of the need for more and more professionals prepared to serve this population group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]