Staff report
The Ellis County AgriLife Extension Office will present “Health Literacy for Older Texans” at 9 a.m. Mondays baeginning on Oct. 3 through Oct. 31 at the Waxahachie Senior Center, room 107.
The program includes five sessions on making healthy lifestyle choices, understanding Medicare benefits, communicating well with your doctor, managing medications, and finding reliable information on the internet. Adults over age 65, family members and caregivers of older adults, and health care professionals are encouraged to attend.
The ability to obtain, understand, and act upon health information (health literacy) is key to making the right health decisions. Evidence shows that people with higher health literacy are more likely to seek preventive care, follow treatment plans, and experience decreased rates of hospitalization and emergency services, along with shorter hospital stays.
There is now an emphasis on patient- clinician collaboration and shared responsibility, said Andy Crocker, senior extension program specialist.
“An older adult’s health literacy can vary depending on changes in one’s medical issues, provider, or system providing the care,” Crocker said. “No matter the context, we all want to feel confident about our decisions and understand that we’re getting cost-effective, safe, high quality health care.”
Paula Butler, AgriLife Extension regional program leader, said the benefi ts of health literacy in older adults extends beyond their own improved health care decisions and improved health status.
“Ultimately, health literacy should result in cost savings to the health care system and improved patient- provider satisfaction,” Butler said. “We want to help empower older adults to take an active role in their health care, which will not only benefit them personally, but the larger community too.”
