OBJECTIVE: Quality of life (QOL) in later life is generally complicated by failing health. In this report, we explore the QOL changes reported by older adults relative to the type of health condition they self report. METHODS: QOL and health status data were collected by postal survey on a convenience sample of 139 adults (age 60 and older) from 12 different states in the US. Generic QOL was measured by the four domains of the WHOQOL-Bref (Physical, Psychological, Social Relationships, and Environment). Concurrent health conditions were self-reported using a 20-item comorbidity checklist. Conditions were subsequently grouped into five categories (cardiovascular, other physical-without pain, other physical-with pain, sensory deficits, and mental health problems). Mean QOL scores were compared between groups reporting conditions in each health status group and those who did not. RESULTS: When compared with other respondents, those reporting cardiovascular conditions demonstrated significant differences in mean QOL scores for the physical domain only (F=5.7; P<0.05). Those reporting other physical conditions associated with pain showed significant differences in QOL for both the physical and psychological domains (F=22.3, P<0.001; F=4.6, P<0.05, respectively). The group reporting physical conditions not associated with pain, and those reporting sensory deficits showed no significant differences in QOL for any of the four domains. However, those reporting mental conditions showed the greatest magnitude of significant differences across all four domains (P<0.001 in all cases). CONCLUSIONS: As health conditions increase with age, various types of conditions impact the QOL of older adults differently. Those conditions that are associated with pain will impact both the physical and psychological domains, but it is the group of mental health conditions that show the greatest impact on QOL of older adults, and cover the greater number of number of affected domains.