Health Literacy for Elderly in Australia: A Comprehensive Analysis

This report delves into the topic of health literacy among the elderly population in Australia. It begins by defining health literacy and highlighting its importance in healthcare decision-making and adherence to treatment guidelines. The report then identifies the specific context of health literacy for the elderly, emphasizing the challenges they face and the need for improved understanding. It examines the development of health literacy programs, focusing on their role in empowering the elderly to actively participate in their healthcare, particularly concerning the use of complementary medicines. The report also explores different levels of health literacy and the role of a registered nurse within a healthcare setting, highlighting communication strategies and addressing concerns related to the consumption of complementary medicines among the elderly. This assignment offers insights into how healthcare professionals can improve health literacy for the elderly, and is available on Desklib.

Health Literacy for
Elderly in Australia
Student’s Name:
Student’s ID:

Definition and Identification of Health Literacy
Definition
 Health literacy is a capability for obtaining, reading, understanding and
using healthcare information
 It is used for making proper health-related decisions and following
guidelines for treatment
 Health literacy consists of both the setting or context and skills
 It is an increasing concern for the healthcare professionals

Continued…

Continued…
Identification
 The chosen topic was health literacy for the elderly people in Australia
 Most of the older people in Australia are aged 65 or more than 65
 Most of them have very less knowledge of health literacy
 It is a major issue for the healthcare professionals to deliver better
healthcare services to them
 Less knowledge of health literacy is a risky factor for the poor health

Overview of the Development of Health
Literacy
 Most of the older people in Australia are high consumers of
complementary medicines
 A health literacy program was developed for helping the elderly people
to take an active part in their healthcare
 It included a wide range of knowledge and skills about healthcare and
health to make them the health literate

Health Literacy Levels in the
Group
 There was three levels of health literacy within our group
 Each level have one member in three different role
 The aim was to make the elderly people aware of the consumption of
complementary medicines

Identification and Role of Registered
Nurse in Health Literacy within the Group
 I played the role of the registered nurse in the second level
 I communicated to the elderly person about the concerns and issues
connected with the consumption of complementary medicines