Objective: Understand the meanings that, for older adults, has the social participation on health in a neighborhood from the locality of Chapinero, Bogota, Colombia. Materials and Methods: a qualitative study on health was conducted with a group of twenty senior citizens from the neighborhood San Martin de Porres, from Bogotá. The focus groups and the field diary were the tools used to collect the information in different meetings with the group. Results: The analysis drew a central theme: Social participation in health: the struggle to become visible and attain health, and three categories: 1) social participation in health: we all seek visibility to move forward , 2) our history of social participation in health: finding ways to express ourselves, and 3) experiences of social participation in health: seeking opportunities to attain health, which ultimately is a reflection of that expressed by the elderly people, who, from their experience, expressed their constant search of spaces where they could be treated in a humane and dignified manner, a place where they could express their ideas, opinions and needs, so they could be taken into account by the society. Conclusions: The older adults built the concept of social participation in health from different elements, evidencing the presence of several degrees of participation linked to different roles within the group. This understanding favors the exercise of their autonomy within society, the integrality of health care and the adequate planning of the development of a country.