Providing Health-Literacy-Level-Appropriate Health Education to Older Adults in the Post-Pandemic Era

• Published in: Hu li za zhi Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 7 - 13
• Main Author: Lee, Pi-Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China (Republic : 1949- ) Taiwan Nurses Association 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Aged; Clinical decision making; Community health care; Delivery of Health Care; Empowerment; Health behavior; Health education; Health Literacy; Humans; Older people; Pandemics; Taiwan; Taiwan; health education; older adults; post-pandemic era; health literacy
• ISSN: 0047-262X
• DOI: 10.6224/JN.202304_70(2).02

The rapidly changing and high-risk nature of communicable diseases for older adults require individuals in this age group to appropriately change their lifestyle and healthcare habits and engage in self-care more actively and seriously. Good self-health management relies on good health literacy in order to be able to read, understand, and apply relevant health information; to communicate clearly with healthcare providers; and to take health-related decisions and actions. The results of research indicate the health literacy of over 50% of older adults in Taiwan to be inadequate, which may be expected to negatively impact on related health outcomes. After introducing the content, determinants, and impacts of health literacy, the author suggests strategies to improve health literacy in older adults in five activity domains based on current theories and research findings. These domains include: formulate public policies for health literacy, adjust the orientation of health services, construct a friendly healthy i