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Senior Citizen Statistics
Just Three Percent of Senior Citizens have Proficient Health Literacy
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Senior citizens (65+) scored far lower than
younger people in a 2003 literacy test. The test had a maximum
score of 500. |
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Do not understand medical instructions, 29% lack basic literacy
September 12, 2006 - Senior citizens have much lower literacy skills
than younger Americans and it is identified as a particular problem when
in comes to understanding medical instructions, according to a recent
report by the National Center for Education Statistics on a study of
2003.
Less than one out of six U.S. adults have "proficient" health literacy,
according to the report released this week, but for seniors it is only
about three out of a hundred.
A
staggering 29% of senior citizens do not even have "basic" health
literacy.
The report also looked at literacy skills in 2003 as compared to 1992
and found senior citizens – still by far the worst readers – did make
big gains from 1992.
Researchers compared gender, race, age and educational levels of 19,000
U.S. adults who took a series of tests, which had a possible total score
of 500 points.
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Percent
in Categories by Age Group |
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Age |
Below
Basic |
Basic |
Intermediate |
Proficient |
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16-18 |
-11 |
23 |
58 |
8 |
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19-24 |
-10 |
21 |
58 |
11 |
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25-39 |
-10 |
18 |
55 |
16 |
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40-49 |
-11 |
21 |
53 |
12 |
|
50-64 |
-13 |
21 |
53 |
12 |
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65+ |
-29 |
30 |
38 |
3 |
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In testing, the health literacy scores were
classified in four groups. There were more than twice as many
seniors in the "Below Basic" level than any other age group. |
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Most participants had "intermediate" health literacy, which mean that most
U.S. adults will find it difficult to use health-related materials
accurately and consistently, Rima Rudd of the Harvard School of Public
Health told the Associated Press.
The report indicates that health care providers, health insurers and
pharmaceutical companies must improve their communication skills to
ensure patients understand basic medical instructions, Rudd said. She
added, "They're writing things at a level in the health field that is
very difficult for the general public to work with."
Other highlights included:
• Women had an average score of 248 points on the tests, compared with 242
points for men;
• Whites and Asians had higher health literacy levels than blacks,
Hispanics and American Indians; and
• Hispanics had lower health literacy levels than any other racial
group.
• Several
population groups are overrepresented in the Below
Basic level.
For example, 55 percent of adults with Below Basic
prose literacy did not graduate from high school,
compared to 15 percent of adults in the general
population.
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This show the change by age group in literacy
scores from 1992 to 2003. Senior citizens made good gains but
still the lowest. |
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Changes between 1992 and 2003
• White Adults
Up 9 points in quantitative
• Black Adults
Up 6 points in prose, 8 points in document, and 16 points in
quantitative
• Hispanic Adults
Down 18 points in prose and 14 points in document
• Asian/Pacific Islander Adults
Up 16 points in prose
The complete report is available
online.
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Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
