Health literacy in older adults.
Health literacy is a critical goal for nurses to address. Consider the patient who stated: They told me I was taking double the medication I was supposed to. I had two bottles, and I was taking one from each bottle, but it turned out they were the same medication. But since I didnt know how to read. I didn't know. (University of Virginia Health Systems, 2003). Many older adults struggle daily to manage their health care problems; compounding these dificulties with low literacy skills can be devastating. They need our help.
College of Nursing and Health Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. jsorrell@gmu.edu
Jeanne M
JM
Sorrell
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D011932:Reading; D012944:Social Support