Health Literacy among Non-Familial Caregivers of Older Adults: A Study Conducted in Tuscany (Italy) (original) (raw)
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Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Aim The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of inadequate health literacy (HL) in a sample of family caregivers of older adults with dementia, and to assess the relationship of HL with characteristics of caregiver and persons with dementia. Methods The study followed a cross-sectional design. Persons with dementia and their family caregivers were enrolled in an outpatients’ geriatric memory clinic. For the caregivers, the following information was collected: socio-demographic data, level of HL, cognitive impairment (using the Mini-Cog). For persons with dementia, the following data were collected: socio-demographic data, functional status (using the Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), cognitive impairment (using the Mini Mental State Evaluation, and the Global Deterioration Scale) behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia (assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory). Results A total of 174 person with dementia/caregiver dyads were ...
‘Older Person Health Literacy Support: A Role for Homecare Workers?
2018
Approximately 60% of Australian adults do not have adequate levels of health literacy (HL) to manage their own health and health care. There are clear links between low HL levels and poor health outcomes, and ‘at risk’ groups include people with cognitive impairment and the elderly. One means of improvement may be found in the rapidly growing paid homecare workforce, whose direct and frequent contact with older Australians (i.e., clients) positions them to provide extensive HL support. This two-phase study examines homecare worker (HCW) experiences in health literacy when providing assistance to their clients. In Phase One, a self-reported cross-sectional survey collected data from 75 HCWs in two Australian homecare organisations. To further explore survey responses, one-to-one semi-structured interviews were held with nine HCWs in Phase Two. Overall, HCWs in the study reported being regularly asked by their clients for HL support e.g., health advice, attending appointments, health ...
Inadequate Health Literacy Among Paid Caregivers of Seniors
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2011
Background Many seniors rely on paid non-familial caregivers to maintain their independence at home. Caregivers often assist with medication reminding and activities of daily living. No prior studies have examined the health literacy levels among paid non-familial caregivers. Objectives To determine health literacy levels and the health-related responsibilities of paid non-familial caregivers of seniors. Design One-on-one face-to-face surveys. The Test for Functional Health Literacy (TOFHLA) was administered to identify health literacy levels. Caregivers were asked to demonstrate their skill in medication use by following directions on pill bottles and sorting medications into pill boxes. Participants Ninety-eight paid unrelated caregivers of seniors recruited at physician offices, caregiver agencies, senior shopping areas, and independent living facilities. Results Average age of caregivers was 49.5 years, and 86.7% were female. Inadequate health literacy was found in 35.7% of caregivers; 60.2% of all caregivers made errors with the pillbox test medications, showing difficulty in following label directions. Health-related tasks (i.e., medication reminding, sorting, dispensing, and accompanying seniors to physician appointments) were performed by 85.7% of caregivers. The mean age of their seniors was 83.9 years (range 65–99 years), and 82.1% were female. Conclusion Paid non-familial caregivers are essential for many seniors to remain independent and maintain their health. Many caregivers perform health-related duties, but over 1/3 have inadequate health literacy and have difficulties following medication-related instructions. Educating caregivers and ascertaining their health literacy levels prior to assigning health-related tasks may be an important process in providing optimal care to seniors.
Geriatrics
Health literacy (HL) allows people to access, understand and evaluate health information. Informal caregivers’ levels of HL may impact long-term care outcomes. ‘Informal caregivers’ profile in Lisbon county: a health community approach’ is a nurse-led research project aiming to assess informal caregivers’ health literacy and associated factors in Lisbon county, as well as to foster the development of a local-specific health literacy strategy. A survey to identify a health/social caregiver profile, including questions about HL (HLS-EU-PT), was submitted to a representative sample of carers. Descriptive and bivariate inferential analysis was developed. Informal caregivers’ level of HL was mostly sufficient (n = 99, 38%). More than 60% of caregivers have limited HL regarding health promotion. ‘Access’, ‘Appraisal’ and ‘Use’ are the information processing stages with lower mean scores of HL. Carers with low HL levels appear to be older and to have less education, low knowledge of commun...
Health literacy support for Australian home-based care recipients: A role for homecare workers?
Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 2019
Clear links have been established between low health literacy (HL) levels and poor health outcomes. One means of improvement may be found in the rapidly growing paid homecare workforce, whose direct and frequent contact with aged/disabled care recipients positions them to provide HL support. This study examines Australian homecare worker (HCW) experiences in HL when providing assistance to their care recipients. A self-reported crosssectional survey collected data from 75 HCWs. They reported concerns about their clients' HL, yet were cautious about providing support in this area. HL levels of the HCWs themselves were unconvincing, and the majority requested targeted education and training. Further research is needed into HL levels of both HCWs and care recipients, client demographics, the types of HL support being requested of HCWs, a more detailed scoping of the HCW role, and the curriculum and pedagogies which may comprise a HL education and training program for HCWs.
Predictors of health literacy in community-dwelling elderly
Social Health and Behavior
Introduction: Health literacy is an essential factor for self-care of chronic conditions and maintenance of health and wellness. This research examines whether or not sociodemographic factors predict health literacy in community-dwelling elderly adults. Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 250 elderly individuals residing in Qazvin, Iran, who were selected by cluster sampling method. Data were collected using the sociodemographic and Health Literacy for Iranian Adults questionnaires. A multivariate regression model was used for analyzing the data. Results: The mean age of 250 elderly people participated in the study was 69.42 ± 6.81 years. Based on the findings of the current study, the majority of the elderly participants had insufficient (n = 79, 31.6%) or not enough (n = 69, 27.6%) health literacy. The results also indicated that good economic status (B = 5.75, standard error (SE) = 2.19, P = 0.009) and living with a spouse (B = −8.75, SE = 3.36, P = 0.010) were associated with higher health literacy. However, having no formal education (B = −26.73, SE = 3.42, P < 0.001) or under diploma education (B = −8.03, SE = 2.53, P = 0.002) and being homemaker (B = −10.58, SE = 3.02, P = 0.001) or unemployed (B = −5.22, SE = 3.13, P = 0.036) were associated with lower health literacy. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the importance of using appropriate strategies for promoting the health literacy of elderly people.
Health literacy training for Australian home care workers: Enablers and barriers
Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 2019
The rapidly expanding Australian home care workforce represents an untapped resource for improving health literacy (HL) and health outcomes of their clients. Nine home care workers (HCWs) were interviewed for this study to gain data around their experiences of providing HL support to their clients, key HL needs and priorities, and training that would best these needs. Findings indicate that HCWs are providing HL support, and identify a number of enablers and barriers to providing this support. Core inclusions for a HL training checklist are suggested. Implications for future research are considered.
PLOS ONE, 2020
Introduction Family carers are cornerstones in the care of older people living with dementia. Family carers report extensive carer burden, reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and extensive time spent on informal care (Time). Health literacy (HL) is a concept associated with people’s ability to access health services, and navigate the healthcare system. This study’s aim was to investigate HL among family carers, and investigate the associations between HL and carer burden, HRQoL, and Time spent on informal care. Method We designed a self-administered survey comprising validated instruments, including the Health Literacy Scale (HLS-N-Q12) to measure HL, Relative Stress Scale (RSS) to measure carer burden, the EQ-5D-5L instrument to measure HRQoL, and some modified questions from the Resource Utilization in Dementia (RUD) questionnaire to measure time spent on informal care (Time). Descriptive analysis in addition to bivariate and multiple linear regressions were undertaken...
Social Determinants and Health Literacy of the Elderly: Walk to Well-Being
OALib, 2020
Framework: Research on health determinants reports that health literacy has a significant impact on the quality of life and well-being of individuals (Kottke, Stiefel & Pronk, 2016) organizations (Brach et al., 2012) and communities (when societies go through adverse conditions, for example through an economic, financial crisis, or even the crisis "COVID-19" whose consequences are still to be determined in the effects on the quality of life of individuals. Health literacy is considered as one of the resources that play an important role in increasing individual resilience and well-being and also a result of health promotion actions such as education, social mobilization and advocacy, through the defense of citizens' interests (Nutbeam, 2000). Well-being is a positive concept (Kottke, Stiefel & Pronk, 2016). Methodology: In a quantitative and qualitative approach, a descriptive cross-sectional study was developed to a group of 22 elderly people, who attend a Day Center in the geographical area of Lisbon (Portugal). Data were collected using the HLS-EU-PT questionnaire, the sociodemographic questionnaire with the selected sample-a group of elderly-as well as semi-structured interviews with caregivers involved in this context. An evaluation was also made by observing manifestations of well-being among the individuals in the sample. Results: The results show a population with low health literacy, with chronic disease, but whose support of the social organization where they spent their time, the easy access arranged by the social organization with private transportation and food and the social activities they develop daily which stimulate a daily relationship with other persons, are strong factors that promote well-being. It is therefore pointed out a need to fit social organizations within the investments of health literacy promoters of "literate organizations" (Brach et al., 2012), since it is in these organizations that a large part of the older population in Portugal is daily in contact and therefore in close proximity to interventions favorable to improve their health literacy.
Health Literacy in the Everyday Lives of Older Adults in Greece, Hungary, and the Netherlands
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Health literacy (HL) encompasses someone’s knowledge and abilities to access and use health information in order to make appropriate health decisions in life. HL is particularly valuable in later life when health challenges grow. An individual’s HL is typically considered a fixed and skills-based characteristic, without taking into account how these are situated in the context of everyday life. Also, lay perspectives on health literacy are relatively scarce. Therefore, the aim of this article is to explore the context-specific perspectives of older adults and health professionals on HL in later life in Greece, Hungary, and the Netherlands. We adopted a qualitative methodology and conducted 12 focus groups: seven with 50 older adults and five with 30 health professionals to gain insight into individual perspectives on HL as situated in the health care and everyday life contexts. An informed grounded theory approach was used in analyzing the data. The results are structured in three t...