Health Literacy and Older Adults: Reshaping the Landscape
2018
This report documents the proceedings of a workshop hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Health Literacy, examining the effect of low literacy on the health of older adults. This report illuminates the growing complexities of health care delivery for adults aged 65 years and older, not only the fastest-growing segment of the US population—estimated to account for 20.9 percent of the US population between 2012 and 2050—but also one of the age groups with the lowest levels of health literacy. It is essential for the health care sector to help the aging population become more health literate so that they can easily navigate discussions related to chronic disease, long-term care, palliative care, insurance complexities, and the social determinants of health. The participants of the workshop discussed feasible strategies to empower patients and families to communicate their needs, raised awareness about the changing needs of aging adults, and discussed different models of care that could be used to address these health challenges.
Health Literacy and Older Adults: Reshaping the Landscape
Source:
Alper J. Health Literacy and Older Adults: Reshaping the Landscape: Proceedings of a Workshop. The National Academies Press 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25188.