目的：本研究之目的在於(1)確認老人身體功能(基本日常生活功能、工具型日常生活功能、及活動功能)衰退發生的順序以及(2)找出與老人最早發生衰退之身體功能相關的因子，以作為未來發展老人身體功能障礙篩檢及預防計劃之依據。方法：83名居住於花蓮市的老人自願參與本研究。受測者需符合下列條件：(1)生活於社區中，(2)年紀在65歲或以上，(3)能獨立行走，(4)能聽懂簡單口令，(5)能執行本研究中之身體功能測試。如有不穩定心臟病或高血壓，或是患有神經系統疾患且造成動作功能障礙者則不予測試。所有的受測者皆接受問卷及身體功能測試之檢測。結果：老人身體功能障礙發生之順序依序為活動功能、工具型日常生活功能、及基本日常生活功能。年齡、憂鬱程度、以及所有的身體功能測試皆呈現明顯的組間差異。結論：建議未來發展老人身體功能障礙之篩檢預防工具時，可考慮以活動功能做為依據。

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to (1) explore the disability developing sequence of three physical function domains (BADL, IADL, mobility) in community-dwelling older adults and (2) find the factors that are associated with the first declined domain of physical function for future screening tool development. Method: 120 community-dwelling elders in Hualien city volunteered to participate. Inclusion criteria were (1) living in the community, (2) 60 year of age or more, (3) able to walk with or without walking aids, (4) able to follow simple commands, (5) able to perform the physical performance tests required in this study. Exclusion criteria included (1) unstable heart disease or hypertension, and (2) neurological disease or disorders with residual motor dysfunction. All subjects completed questionnaires and physical performance tests. Results: The development of physical disability in elder adults started from decline of mobility, then IADL domain, and finally the BADL domain. We classified all participants into normal group and declined group according to their mobility ability. Age, depression score, and all performance tests demonstrated significant differences between the normal and declined groups. Conclusion: To develop a screening tool to detect elderly at earliest stage of decline, mobility domain of physical function should be focused since it was the first to decline.