OBJECTIVE: to examine the associations between domains of chronic diseases, social, psychological and environmental factors and long-standing and limiting long-standing illness among older people. DESIGN: cross sectional survey. SETTING: national sample living in private households. SUBJECTS: 999 adults aged 65 years and over, mean age 73.2 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: self-reports of long-standing illness and limiting long-standing illness. RESULTS: the prevalence of long-standing illness was 61.8% (95% CI 58.8, 64.9) and that for limiting long-standing illness was 40.0 (95% CI 38.0, 43.0). Strong associations between long-standing illness and circulatory disease, odds ratio: 2.23 (95% CI 1.63, 3.05) and musculoskeletal disorders, odds ratio: 3.21 (95% CI 2.35, 4.39) were found. In addition associations with other domains were observed. For example, feelings of vulnerability, odds ratio: 1.79 (95% CI, 1.28, 2.51) from the psychological domain and, having close relatives living close by, odds ratio: 1.52 (95% CI 1.11, 2.09) from the social domain. CONCLUSION: the importance of considering a wide range of domains of human experience in the causation of limitations in society is emphasised. The currently dominant disease oriented view is insufficient to explain people's reported long-standing illness and limiting long-standing illness.