As a public health professional, what could you do to help overcome the health disparities that exist in the United States because of a lack of health literacy among the elderly?

Healthliteracy challenges may impact older adults more than other age groups. Onaverage, adults age 65 and older have lower health literacy than adults underthe age of 65. Lowhealth literacy among older adults is associated with increased reports of poorphysical functioning, pain, limitations of daily activities, poor mental healthstatus^, 

Improvementsin health practice that address low health literacy are needed to reducedisparities in health status. As limited health literacy is common and may bedifficult to recognize, experts recommend that practices assume all patientsand caregivers may have difficulty comprehending health information and shouldcommunicate in ways that anyone can understand. Examplesinclude: simplifying communication; confirming comprehension for all patientsto minimize risk of miscommunication; making the health care system easier tonavigate; and supporting patients efforts to improve their health.

Additionalresearch is needed to increase the evidence base for what works to improve theeffects of health literacy on health outcomes and disparities. This additionalevidence will facilitate public health efforts to address health literacy as asocial determinant of health.

Why do older people havelower health literacy?

Physical impairments suchas hearing and vision loss may also contribute to a decreased ability toprocess health information (Cornett, 2006; Speros, 2009).Psychosocial factors such as socioeconomic status and coping may negativelyinfluence understanding health information (Cornett, 2006).

What are the challengesto developing and maintaining good health literacy with older adults?

The ramificationsfor people with low to moderate healthcare literacy skillsinclude the inability to assume positive self management, higher medical costsdue to more medication and treatment errors, more frequent hospitalizations,longer hospital stays, more visits to their healthcare provider,and a lack of