Introduction: The ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) is an important marker within the aging process, as it reflects the level of independence to act and permorme in the real world. However, there is a scarcity of studies that investigate the different performance profiles among older adults. Objective: to investigate the heterogeneity present in the community s elderly, grouping them based on characteristics and patterns observed through an objective performance-based assessment. Method: Participants were selected according to inclusion criteria: fluency in Portuguese; 60 or more years; regular participation in a social program offered by the government of Rio de Janeiro, and absence of a caregiver. The evaluation of IADLs was determined by UPSA, UPSA-B, and the Lawton IADL scale.The Brief Cognitive Screening Battery was used to characterize the sample, in addition to the Geriatric Depression Scale. A total of 61 elderly people with an average age of 72.5 years, predominantly female (85.2 percent), and average education of 11.2 were evaluated and grouped according to their performance at UPSA through clustering analysis. Results: The analysis revealed three grouping patterns, subdividing the sample into subgroups that differed significantly in terms of age, education, global cognition, and all instrumental activities assessed by UPSA - planning, finance, communication, transportation, and household chores. Conclusion: The present study was able to identify the heterogeneity present between the elderly in the different factors that composes the IADLs through a performance-based assessment.