How Access to Social Security Influences the Living Conditions of Older Adults

Abstract

The influence of access to social security on the living conditions of older adults in the San Bartolomé neighborhood, San Juan de Pastocalle parish, begins by identifying the central problem, which addressed the existence of structural gaps in access to social protection, revealing significant limitations in the economic, emotional, and social well-being of this population, particularly in rural areas. The general objective was to understand this relationship to provide evidence supporting inclusive socialinterventions and public policies. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative tools. Structured surveys were administered to 30 older adults selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, complemented by direct observations made during home visits. Descriptive statistics, correlational analysis, and qualitative open-coding techniques were used to analyze the collected information. Among the main findings, it was noted that fewer than half of the older adults had access to social security or received a pension, and most reported deficiencies in healthcare services, economic resources, and social participation, highlighting a significant contrast between overall satisfaction expressed and frequent feelings of loneliness and isolation. A notable contribution was methodologically validating the combined use of quantitative and qualitative techniques in rural contexts, effectively capturing the subjective and structural dimensions of aging. Given this, the conclusions emphasized the urgent need to implement comprehensive public policies that surpass welfare-oriented approaches and promote effective and equitable social protection.