title: Memory performance, health literacy, and instrumental activities of daily living of community residing older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health literacy is associated with cognitive function across multiple domains in older adults, and these older adults may face special memory and cognitive challenges that can limit their health literacy and, in turn, their ability to live independently.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate if an association existed among health literacy, memory performance, and performance-based functional ability in community-residing older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five adults participated in this study. Designed to reflect everyday memory, the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (RBMT) bridges laboratory-based measures of memory and assessments obtained by self-report and observation. The RBMT classifies individuals into four categories of memory performance: normal, poor, mildly impaired, and severely impaired. The participants were recruited in the two categories of normal (≥22) or impaired (≤16) category on the RBMT. The sample consisted of 14 who were in the impaired category and 31 in the normal group. Their average age was 77.11 years, and their average number of years of education was 15.33 years. Health literacy scores measured with the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health literacy scores were high (M = 65.09, SD = 2.80). Thirty-four participants or 76% of the sample scored a 66 out of a possible score of 80. Pearson correlations were calculated for the study variables. Health literacy scores with education and cognition (.30), memory performance groups (normal vs. poor; .25), and performance-based instrumental activities (.50) were associated significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of a broader assortment of health literacy instruments would improve the ability of researchers to both compare studies and build on the knowledge and results of others.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78701-1499, USA. gmcdougall@mail.nur.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mackert
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D010865:Pilot Projects