This study aims to determine basic daily living activities (ADL) of elderly and their capability of instrumental daily living activities (IADL) in Istanbul-Küçükçekmece. in 1998, beside the questionnaires interrogating demographic features and chronic diseases, Basic Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADLs) and instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (lADLs) were conducted with cross-section method by face-to-face interviews with elderly people selected by 1/5 systematic sampling method. 30.4 % of the participants (n = 382) scored full points from ADLs and lADLs. 15.2 % could not fulfill the basic daily living activities and 63.9 % the instrumental daily living activities. The age, one of demographic features was found out to be the most important factor effecting ADLs -1 ADLs points (F=3.23, p = 0.004, std. Error=2.14 ). Although some IADL fulfilment was affected by life styles, marital status and the presence of chronic health problems according to Fisher and Chi-Square test results, this fact was not observed in Multiple Regression Analysis.