Health Literacy Case Study

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This report will identify the health literacy issues for older Australians and in particular the literacy issues faced by Fiona from the case study on older people. Fiona is a 76-year old female living in a small coastal town and like many older Australians lives alone and feels quite isolated after her spouse passed away. This report will also look at the literacy issues that may impact on the health of Fiona and others in this age group, and the actions in improving health literacy.
Health literacy can be defined as the degree of a person’s ability to understand or access health information and health care; as well as their ability to engage, assess, make decisions and act in different health contexts.
Health outcomes are greatly influenced by health literacy. Poor health literacy can complicate already challenging health problems in older individuals, such as physical changes associated with
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19% of adults reported to be at the lowest scale of health literacy skills (ABS 2009). According to the 2007–2008 National Health Survey, 83% of people aged 65 years and over had three or more long-term health conditions (ABS 2008).
Like many older Australians, Fiona is experiencing several age related physical changes and conditions - loss of sight, musculoskeletal conditions and cognitive changes. These changes may impact on an older person’s health literacy and their ability to communicate effectively, access, understand, process or act on health information.
Social disadvantages or determinants are also related to health literacy. Oral and written communication, technical jargon, language barriers, financial income, education, social exclusion and the increased use of modern technology – electronic tools, internet and information only accessible via the internet, are all factors that may be linked to low health