Objective To explore the association between the risk of depression and demographic, social and functional aspects of the elderly department of Antioquia in 2012. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study of 4 248 seniors as a primary source. Demographic, social and functional characteristics were assessed. Crude OR was calculated and adjusted to find association between the risk of depression as measured by the Yesavage's Geriatric Depression Scale and other variables of interest. Results The risk of depression was associated with age, marital status, educational level, smoking and alcohol consumption, as with little or no participation in community activities (OR =1.9 , 95 % [1,2,3.0 ], the perception of poor quality of life (OR=10.0 , 95 % CI [ 2.0,48.8 ] and loss of functional capacity (OR=6.3, 95 % [29, 13.9 ]. Conclusions The risk of depression in the elderly is associated with more difficulty relating to their physical and emotional environment than to the biological condition of the disease. This is a situation that could be prevented if family ties are strengthened and with the aim of a more active and functional aging.