Adequate health literacy skills are important to accessing and effectively using the health care system. Studies show that health literacy skills decrease with advanced age. Among the many factors that have been shown to be related to health literacy skills are age, education, and income. This study was conducted as part of a needs assessment for a pilot program that is being developed for three clinics that serve patients 60 years of age and older. The overall objective of the program is to ensure that patients are able to participate as fully as possible in their health care. The study considered the factors that are known to impact health literacy levels. It also investigated the effectiveness of the communication between the health care provider and the patients. To discover how these factors are related to the health literacy skills of this patient population, an assessment of health literacy levels was conducted as part of the study. The findings of this needs assessment and from a literature search are being used in developing methods for enhancing the clinics' verbal and written communications with the patients.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the factors that impact the health literacy skills of elderly patients. 2. Describe the barriers to accessing and using health care that low health literacy skills create. 3. List methods of addressing these barriers in a clinical setting.
Keywords: Health Literacy,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: LifeLong Medical Care
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment