The scope of this study was to evaluate the functional capacity and analyze the characteristics associated with the disability of elderly individuals attended in a Family Health Strategy Unit in Montes Claros in the state of Minas Gerais. The Lawton and Brody scale and the Katz scale were used and then analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. 286 elderly individuals were interviewed with ages ranging from 60 to 103 years and a mean age of 71.2 years (SD ± 8.3). Of these, 61.9% self-reported their independence in terms of functional capacity. The dependence only in IADL was positively associated with age ≥ 75 years (OR = 8.38), female gender (OR = 3.64) and heart disease (OR = 3.24). The dependence in IADL and ADL was positively associated with age ≥ 75 years (OR = 6.40), without a partner (OR = 3.26), those who had had a stroke (OR = 51.85), heart disease (OR = 4.18) and diabetes (OR = 3.35). The highest proportion of elderly was considered independent to carry out basic and instrumental activities of daily living. However, a significant portion still has impaired functional status. It is essential that the teams of the Family Health Strategy strive for health promotion and disease prevention, and therapeutic interventions that can minimize the factors that influence functional capacity.