Objective: to identify validated instruments that can be used for the functional assessment of elderly persons in Palliative Care. Method: an integrative review focused on identifying instruments for the functional assessment of elderly persons in palliative care was carried out by searching publications in periodicals indexed in seven electronic databases. Descriptors, keywords and Boolean operators were used for a cross-database search in November 2017. A total of 357 abstracts were identified, from which 53 articles were selected for reading, of which 21 met the inclusion criteria. Results: this strategy allowed the identification of eight scales and one test for the functional assessment of elderly persons in palliative care. Conclusion: eight scales and a functional test which also provide guidelines for improving the quality of life of elderly people in palliative care were identified, demonstrating that it is practically impossible to disassociate physical functional performance from social and psychological aspects.