Aging and quality of life. 1: Towards a better understanding.

This article, the first in a two-part series, considers a number of factors that influence quality of life in older age. It highlights the tensions between objective and subjective dimensions regarding the quality of life. It emphasizes the differences between those definitions used by professionals and those employed by older people themselves. The authors argue that there is a need to gain a broader understanding of how people adjust to and interpret their own ageing before the appropriate services can be designed. Assimilation, accommodation and immunization are presented as useful concepts to improve understanding in this important area.