TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Optimizing Care of Older Adults with Limited Health Literacy A1 - Rorvig, Leah B. A1 - Chodos, Anna H. A1 - Sudore, Rebecca L. A2 - Walter, Louise C. A2 - Chang, Anna A2 - Chen, Pei A2 - Harper, G. Michael A2 - Rivera, Josette A2 - Conant, Rebecca A2 - Lo, Daphne A2 - Yukawa, Michi PY - 2021 T2 - Current Diagnosis & Treatment Geriatrics, 3e AB - Health literacy is defined as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions.” The construct of health literacy is complex. Limited health literacy (LHL) is thought to occur at or below an eighth-grade reading level. However, health literacy not only involves reading and writing skills, but also listening and verbal communication skills and computational or numeracy skills required for such tasks as pill counting or insulin dosing. Language barriers also contribute to LHL, and the number of foreign-born, older adults in the United States who have limited English proficiency is growing (see Chapter 78, “Unique Needs of Older Immigrants”). Health literacy is also affected by the health care environment, which places a heavy burden on patients to manage their own complex disease processes and health care benefits. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/20 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1180019664 ER -