台灣人口快速老化，老年人口常因慢性病或受傷導致失能，以致日常生活需要照護與協助。失能是動態的過程，物理治療師以「短期介入、定期追蹤」的原則，適時介入高危險族群以維持社區老人獨立的日常生活功能。居家物理治療師至失能個案家中訪視、評估，與個案及照顧者共同討論復健計畫，給予居家環境評估與運動指導以協助老人改善活動力與獨立性，協助失能老人留在家中在地老化，延後至機構照護的時間。本文進行文獻回顧，評估居家物理治療對急性後期照護與長期照護的介入與療效。居家物理治療對急性後期病患，如下肢骨折、膝關節與髖關節置換、中風、慢性阻塞性肺疾病與心臟病患等等，可協助提早返家並改善病態的功能。對慢性病、長期失能住在家中的長期照護個案，居家物理治療可改善身體功能與活動力，避免功能退化並可改善生活品質。本文並討論治療頻率與強度等介入因素與長短期失能對居家物理治療療效的影響。文末參考其他國家政策以做為我國政策參考，並建議透過單一入口的照護路徑、標準化的評估測量、治療原則與結案標準，以增強居家物理治療的效能。

Population ageing in Taiwan is proceeding at an accelerating rate. Many people who suffered from chronic illness or injuries need care and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) due to disability. Disability is a dynamic process and disability might not be permanent with proper rehabilitation. This paper reviews the effectiveness of home-based physical therapy for the disabled elderly during post-acute care and/or long-term care. For post-acute care clients, home-based physical therapy enabled early hospital discharge and improved walking ability and other functions. For long-term care clients, home-based physical therapy improved mobility, prevented functional decline and improved quality of life. The effects of varying therapeutic frequency and intensity were emphasized in this review. Characteristics of the health care delivery system for long-term care and post-acute care in foreign countries were also reviewed. It is suggested that home physical therapy should adopt a "timely periodical intervention with scheduled follow-up" principle for clients in the long-term care system. Home environment assessment and exercise education are the main services of home physical therapy, which can enhance the elderly performing ADLs more independently and delay the transition to long-term care facilities. Lastly, establishing standardized critical care pathways, a single entry to all services, and a standardized clinical assessment and treatment protocols are recommended to enhance the effectiveness of home physical therapy for post-acute and long-term care clients.