Older Colombians face significant adversities: poverty, violence and displacement. However, there is evidence that Latinos are often resilient. We examine resilience in older Colombians living in poverty using an ecological framework that identifies three levels: individual; community; and societal. In this paper we examine data from 16 semi-structured interviews with older Colombians that explore resilience within the context of poverty. We analyze our data using three stages: (1) modified grounded theory; (2) assignment of resilience status; (3) identification of components of the ecological framework which contribute to resilience in these participants. The most striking feature is that some participants are able to adapt to their situation, demonstrating resilience, whilst others are not. Individual characteristics such as psychological and material resources contribute to resilience. At the community level, family, social support, participation and cohesion promote resilience. Finally, at the societal level, social and welfare services, finance, religion and social policy, are important factors. These different levels of resilience are co-dependent, and we illustrate how this is so. We suggest that older Colombians living in poverty often demonstrate resilience, but that more can be done to enhance their lives. This includes interventions at the individual and community levels alongside changes in social policy.

ResumenSe realizó una investigación cualitativa de carácter exploratorio con el objetivo de identificar los determinantes de bienestar subjetivo en personas mayores en situación de pobreza. Se analizaron 12 entrevistas de hombres y mujeres con edades entre los 60 y 80 años. El análisis de los datos se llevó a cabo mediante la teoría fundamentada, y se encontró que el bienestar subjetivo en las personas mayores está determinado por factores como: percepción de control, apoyo social, vinculación a actividades productivas, seguridad económica, salud, factores culturales, fortalezas personales y oportunidad de acceder a información y capacitación. Con estos hallazgos se construyó un modelo en donde se definen las relaciones entre las categorías y subcategorías.Palabras clave: bienestar subjetivo, personas mayores, teoría fundamentada. AbstractAn exploratory qualitative research was conducted aiming to identify the determinants of subjective well-being of older adults living in poverty. A total of 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted in a sample of men and women from 60 to 80 years old. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory approach, and the results showed that subjective well-being in older adults is determined by: perceived self-control, social support, linkage to productive activities, economic security, health, cultural factors, personal strengths and opportunity to access information and training. With this findings, a model that defines the relationships between the categories and sub-categories was built.