Low Health Care Literacy and the Older Patient

Low Health Care Literacy and the Older Patient - #90

Take Quiz

Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to understand his or her health and effectively navigate the health care system.  

Outpatient and inpatient care of older adults.

Improve health care communication for older adults with low health literacy.

•    List 3 patient risk factors for low health literacy and 3 provider characteristics which may exacerbate low health literacy in older adult patients.
•    List 3 techniques or skills that may be used to maximize older adult patient health care literacy.
 

  1. Kutner M, Greenberg E, Jin Y et al. (2006). The Health Literacy of America’s Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy US Department of education, Washington, DC: National center for Education Statistics.
  2. Canadian council on Learning Health Literacy in Canada, 2007.
  3. Berkman ND, Sheridan SL, Donahue KE, et al. Low health literacy and health outcomes: an update systematic review.
  4. Ann Intern Med 2011; 155(2): 97-107.
  5. Health Literacy Table: https://www.intellus.org/Member-Resources/Health-Literacy-Initiative
     
This GFF ___ my competence in geriatrics.

Michael L. Malone, MD, Advocate Aurora Health, Clinical Adjunct Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Adam Perry, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Geisinger Commonwealth Medical College

Rebecca Weeks BSN, MSN, Nurse Clinician, Nursing Administration, Aurora Lakeland Medical Center