This volume brings together a number of scholarly studies on the definition, assessment and measurement of human quality of life. The book contains fundamental analyses of basic concepts such as welfare, well-being, happiness and quality of life itself.

Helps explain the central notions of health and welfare by comparing the human and animal variants of these concepts. Split into three parts, this book starts by presenting a background of some of the major theories of human health and welfare. This is followed by a discussion of theories on animal welfare and health.

The notion of quality of life has for several decades been well-established in ethical debate about health care and the care of older people. Dignity in Care for Older People highlights the notion of dignity within the care of the elderly, focusing on the importance of theoretical concepts.

This study of the concept of health combines central ideas in modern philosophy of medicine with some results from analytical action theory. The emerging concept of health - that a person's health is characterized by their ability to achieve their vital goals - is demonstrated in this text.