Improving Health Outcomes of Older Adults Through Assessment of Health Literacy Skills

Occupational therapy is a practice that encourages health and well-being among individuals by promoting participation in everyday life activities or occupations (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2025). Health literacy and fall prevention are important components that support optimal occupational performance in the older adult population. Health literacy is an individual’s ability to manage their own health and well-being and is often limited among people aged 65 and older and from low socioeconomic backgrounds (Center for Health Care Strategies, 2024). This study used a mixed-methods approach to assess health literacy skills and gain insight into the perceptions of older adult, urban-dwelling clients regarding two fall prevention educational resources. The aim of the study was to determine the clients’ health literacy levels and to modify a fall prevention resource to align with their measured skills. The findings suggest that older adults living in urban areas may have limited health literacy skills. Additionally, the findings propose that the educational resources should be available in multiple formats and written at a sixth grade reading level or lower, using large fonts and images to enhance understanding and retention.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Koontz, Kaili M.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Coviello, Jeanne

• Older adults
• Urban-dwelling
• Health literacy
• Fall prevention
• Health
• Health outcomes

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholarshare.temple.edu/handle/20.500.12613/11059

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/11059