ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on understanding the interactions of the social and physical environment with physical limitations, illness, chronic conditions, and disability in influencing the capability of older people to achieve valued physical functioning. It draws on the wealth of work in ageing research which addresses the social and material aspects of the environment which support the physical functioning of older people and the ways in which the environment physically disables older people. The practices of ageism are used to perform particular identities by older people themselves and these have very practical consequences for physical functioning. Ageist assumptions work to exclude older people from participation as active and respected citizens and are the reason that older people may be discriminated against, excluded, and subordinated, to the detriment of their physical functioning. From a capabilities perspective, good physical functioning means supporting an individual's ongoing quality of life, including their family and community relationships.
