<p>Increased life expectancy and the prevalence of prolonged health conditions are forcing older adults to rely more heavily on healthcare services. However, very little is known about the status of tribal people, particularly older adults, their construction of health and illness, and how they seek care in response to illness. Through a qualitative study with women and men older adults aged 60 years and above, the study aims to understand the conceptualization of health and the associated factors and choices in patterns of health-seeking behavior among older adults in the Dard tribe of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The data was collected by using in-depth interviews and observation methods. Our study shows that tribal religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, indigenous knowledge, and living conditions shape the way people understand health. The construction of illnesses among older adults and tribal populations plays a significant role in how they manage their health. Health is commonly understood as spiritual conformity, whereas illness is interpreted as religious nonconformity. The study further reveals that perceptions of illnesses, traditional beliefs, poor socioeconomic status, distance to health institutions, the unavailability of quality health services, and decision-making processes determine their choices in patterns of health-seeking behavior.</p>