Low Health Literacy and Older Adults: Meanings, Problems, and Recommendations for Social Work

Abstract

Many older adults struggle to manage their health care problems. Low health literacy exacerbates such struggles and contributes to a variety of adverse health behaviors and outcomes. Addressing how health literacy impinges on the lives of older adults is a neglected area of social work practice and knowledge. This article explores seven areas: defining health literacy, the problem and prevalence of low health literacy among older adults, health inequalities and health literacy, a brief literature review, neglected issues in the literature, suggestions for macro and micro social work interventions to improve health literacy for older adult populations, and conclusion.

KEYWORDS:

• functional health literacy
• literacy
• well-being of older adults
• geriatric social work
• health education
• health inequalities
• communication with health care providers
• social work interventions

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author expresses special thanks to his fiancé and family for their steadfast support.