Objective To investigate the clinical features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the elderly. Methods A total of 12 elderly patients (over 60 years old) with CLL admitted in our hospital from June 1999 to June 2013 were enrolled in this study and retrospectively analyzed. Results The mean age was 75.5 years in the cohort. All patients had suffered from underlying diseases, and hypertension was the most common one. And some of them (3/12) even complicated with the secondary tumor. Nine cases received individualized treatments. The results showed that 5 patients suffered progressive disease (PD, Sample 1, 2, 3, 10 and 12 had the total survival time of 107, 64, 174, 69 and 4 months, respectively), 2 patients achieved complete remission (CR), 1 patient achieved partial remission (PR), and 1 patient reported stable disease (SD). Four patients died of progressive CLL, 1 of infection, and the other 3 of the secondary tumor. Conclusion Elderly CLL has atypical symptoms and many underlying diseases. Treatment should be individualized based on patient’s status.