This study aimed at characterizing the asylums at the municipality of Campinas regarding their residents, human resources and routines. Authors investigated six private institutions with residents, whose majority were dependent and with quantitatively and qualitatively insufficient human resources. It was possible to verify the capacitation of the health professionals in the areas of geriatrics and gerontology, in particular, as well as of the nursing team that is really important to the improvement of the care provided to the elderly.