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Journal of Applied Gerontology
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Health Literacy and Social Support Among Elderly Medicare Enrollees in a Managed Care Plan

Shoou-Yih D. Lee

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Julie A. Gazmararian

Emory University

Ahsan M. Arozullah

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center University of Illinois at Chicago

This study examined health literacy, social support, and their relations to health status and health care use among older adults. The survey design and data were from a project that examined the prevalence of low health literacy among community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a national managed care organization. Results indicate that compared to the high health literacy group, enrollees with low health literacy were more likely to receive medical information support and health reminder support. However, they were less likely to receive tangible support for their health care needs. In both health literacy groups, medical information support and health reminder support were associated with lower physical health and mental health status. Tangible support was associated with higher physical and mental health status. Health reminder support was associated with more doctor visits and a lower likelihood of hospitalization in the high health literacy group. Implications for reducing the adverse health consequences of low health literacy among older adults are discussed.

Key Words: health literacy • social support • health status • the elderly • Medicare enrollees

Journal of Applied Gerontology, Vol. 25, No. 4, 324-337 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0733464806291314
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