Background: With the increase of the number of older people worldwide, the risk of geriatric depression is also increasing, which may lead to the increase of many adverse events (suicide, death), and have a negative impact on the mental health of the older people. Therefore, it is of great significance for nurses to pay attention to the depression of the older person to support them and improve their physical and mental health.

Aim：To describe the present situation of depression among the pre-frail older person in one community of Lishui City, and to investigate the related factors of depression. 

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The participants consisted of 165 pre-frail older person over 60 years old from one community in Lishui. The questionnaire included general social characteristics, FRAIL scale and Geriatric Depression Scale: the short form (GDS-15). The data was analysed using descriptive analysis, t-test and one-way ANOVA.

Result: The total depression score of the older person in the early stage of community weakness in Lishui City was 2.35±2.28, prevalence of depression 0% among pre-frail older persons in Lishui community. In terms of gender, the total score of males (2.47±2.40) was higher than that of females (2.23±2.17). In terms of marital status, the other included widowed, divorced (2.86±1.20) than married and live with spouse (2.47±2.40). There was no statistically significant difference in gender and marital status (P> 0.05).

Conclusions: Gender and marital status did not influence the depression of pre-frail older person in Lishui community. However, in the future, nurse should pay attention to various factors, strengthen the attention to the older person with depression, and take effective measures to reduce the incidence of depression in the older person.