Health literacy programs for older adults

Document Type:Essay

Subject Area:Nursing

Document 1

There is a shift from reliance on health care providers as the sole provider of information. The old population is considered more proactive when it comes to accessing information of prevention and care for their health and are termed as ‘health conscious’. This shift is partially as a result of increased availability as well as accessibility of health information especially from the internet. This then implies that the impact of the information obtained from the online sources on how the older population cares for their health is quite increasing, and more so for those having single or multiple chronic illnesses. Health literacy can be defined as the capacity of an individual to acquire, comprehend and utilize effectively the basic health services and information so as to help in making appropriate health decisions.

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The particular health program emphasizes on the importance of enhancing the abilities of the older population, improving positive behavioral outcomes and enhancing personal capacity to benefit from online health information (Manafo & Wong, 2012). The behavioral outcomes include thins like confidence and self-motivation in the support of decision-making related to health. Older patients gain more confidence in their health when they are in control. Having the capacity to access and utilize the online health instructions and advices has been shown to boost their strength and health outcomes because they are confident that their aging is secured. The shift from overdependence on the healthcare providers as the only source of health information and letting the older patients manage themselves has resulted in improved health outcomes (Manafo & Wong, 2012).

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