The aim of the research was to analyze the psychometric properties of Family APGAR, in a sample of 430 elders in the municipality of Fortaleza, Brazil. The reliability was tested through Cronbach's alpha, the constructed validity was confirmed with an exploratory factorial analysis (Varimax rotation), and the validity of criterion was seen in the correlation between Family APGAR and the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnoses of "Discontinue family processes". The results demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.80 and a discrimination coefficient between 0.52 and 0.68. The value of Cronbach's alpha had a different result when one of the items was suppressed, varying from 0.73 to 0.78. The factorial analysis demonstrated a single factorization nature of the instrument used in the research. The validity of the criterion showed a coefficient of correlation of 0.76. The Family APGAR in the elderly living in Northeast Brazil demonstrated to be reliable and valid for population screening. However, to implement such interventions, it is suggested a simultaneous use of instruments that gather all dimensions to evaluate family functionality.
Validation studies; Family relations; Aged