Role of Social Capital, Health Literacy and Health Access Regarding Well-Being and Resilience among Elderly Women of Sargodha

Abstract

The proposed study aims to explore the connection between the resilience and well-being of older women in Sargodha and the access to social capital and health literacy. Pakistani elderly women are faced with several social-educational and social-physical challenges. The proposed study will explore the problem of resilience and well-being of older women in Sargodha at the intersection of social capital, health literacy, and healthcare access. Recent publications point to the fact that social capital, especially within networks and community ties, has little relevance in fostering psychological well-being and resilience in old age. There is also evidence that health literacy and accessible health services enables the elderly to make appropriate health decisions which is the first step to attaining and maintaining future well-being. However, as far as we know, there is little data available in economically deprived countries such as Pakistan, especially on the elderly women population. There is a clear need for socially appropriate and community based programs for health literacy as well as gender responsive and socially appropriate health care services for elderly women in rural Pakistan. Slotted within the frameworks of the WHO Healthy Ageing and Communicative Health Capital Models, the research adds to the international discourse on equity in ageing and offers policy recommendations on reinforcing the social care systems for older adults in marginalized positions