Abstract

Introduction: the research links three key aspects of social policy designed for seniors and their living conditions: health status, poverty and rurality. Objective: assess the specific living conditions of people older than 60 years of age living in three rural areas of southern Chile and their effects on health and general functioning. Methods: Qualitative research was conducted using a critical interpretive design wherein 22 people aged 60 to 80 were interviewed who are residents of three rural areas in southern Chile: Forrahue, Pucatrihue and Neltume during the second half of 2018. Results: the results enable a discussion of the general health conditions of the interviewees, the positive effects of physical activity in conjunction with diet, the effect of chronic pain and their connections to wellbeing in light of adverse living conditions, isolated from urban areas and resources. Discussion: the health interventions geared toward people over 60 years of age must incorporate variables related to the territorialization of such practices for wellbeing.