India is home to numerous medical traditions; almost 70% of its population relies on herbal, traditional, and/or folk medicine for basic healthcare needs. A fairly large proportion of this population comprises older adults who live in rural areas such as remote villages in the Indian Himalayas. Consequently, significant changes affecting any of these medical systems is likely to impact older adults more acutely than younger generations. A qualitative study using ethnographic data collection techniques was undertaken in three villages in a northern Indian state to understand the role of herbal, traditional, and folk medicines in the lives of older adults who are the primary users, practitioners, and custodians of local, traditional medical knowledge. The results have been contextualized in two time periods – “In the olden days…” and “These days…” to highlight the contrasts that older residents have witnessed in the nature, cause, and treatment of illnesses over time. Major themes in the time period “In the olden days…” include: pure food, pure environment, physical ability, traditional medical/non-medical knowledge, folk systems, and community support. Major themes in the time period “These days…” include: modern conveniences, migration of younger generations, climate change/environmental degradation, unsustainable harvest of herbs, changes in food systems, and decline in physical abilities. All of these together answer how older adults view and address “small illnesses”, “big illnesses”, “new illnesses” and “illnesses of old age” in the two time periods. This study highlights the relationship between the health seeking behavior of older adults and the evolving nature of various factors including trade, development, environment, socio-cultural norms, lifestyles, and family structures in the region.