February 7, 2009

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BY JULIE DAVIS

Add Health Illiteracy To Conditions Facing Older Americans

How well do your parents understand and follow medical directions?

According to the report, Older Americans: Key Indicators of Well-Being, released by the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics, many of our elderly are suffering from health illiteracy, not understanding enough about their medical conditions and how to help themselves.

The government defines health literacy as “the degree to which people have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Adhering to prescription instructions, filling out a patient information form or giving informed consent are specific tasks that require more than just an adequate level of literacy—they require an adequate level of health literacy.”

The four levels of health literary are described this way:

• Proficient—able to find the definition of a medical term in a complex health document
• Intermediate—able to determine a healthy weight range using a body mass index chart
• Basic—able to understand a single page article about a health condition
• Below basic—able to circle the date of a medical appointment on a hospital appointment slip

 

The summary went on to say that older adults are proportionately more likely to have below basic health literacy than any other age group. Nearly 40 percent of those 75 years old and over have below basic health literacy; that number drops to 23 percent of people age 65–74 and to 13 percent of people age 50–64.

Those statistics are relatively good news for baby boomers whose health knowledge is on the increase, but not such good news for their parents. “Poor health literacy is associated with cognitive decline among those age 80 and over, a group that is increasing in size,” concluded the report.

The challenge for caregivers of aging parents is to know not just that their medical needs are being taken care of or that they are going to see their doctors, but also that they really understand their medical conditions and any self-care they are responsible for, from taking prescription drugs to managing any symptoms.

For more articles on elder health, visit here

 

Less Calories, Tests Great

The longevity benefits of eating a restricted-calorie diet have long been debated. Now one German study conducted at the University of Munster has shown that cutting calories by 30 percent can result in better verbal memory performance in the elderly. Participants were all in good health, with the average age of 60. Those who cut their calories had memory performance scores 20 percent higher than participants in two other groups in the study, one whose intake stayed the same and the other whose intake of unsaturated fatty acids, also thought to have an effect on memory, was increased by 20 percent. In fact neither of the other groups showed any memory improvement. Researchers hope their findings will lead to new ways to preserve cognitive function into old age.

It’s important to note that the participants were all in good health, and that in the general popular many elderly people who have medical conditions and a loss of appetite may not get enough calories or not enough of the right calories, those from lean sources of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

For more articles on nutrition, visit here

 

Stating The Obvious

Geriatric Care In The Hospital Makes A Difference In Patient Outcome

A report just cited in the British Journal Of Medicine detailed findings of medical study review conducted by geriatric doctors in Madrid, Spain. Looking at 11 different studies, they compared the outcomes of hospital patients over 65 who were admitted to acute geriatric units at hospitals and those who were put in conventional care units. After getting treatment from professionals trained in the care of seniors, patients left the hospital in better condition and more likely to be able to return to their own home when they were discharged. This clearly demonstrates the advantages to specialized geriatric care for the elder population.

For more articles on elder health, visit here