Right here at We ❤ Well being Literacy Headquarters, we all know it’s particularly necessary to comply with well being literacy greatest practices when speaking with older adults. However earlier than you’ll be able to handle this viewers’s well being wants, you have to work out what to name them!
Identical to speaking right down to older adults, slapping fusty outdated labels in your well being supplies can actually alienate your viewers. If a wholesome, lively 65-year-outdated sees a brochure about providers for “the aged,” likelihood is they’ll assume it’s not for them.
So take away the confusion and handle your supplies to a particular age vary, utilizing the extra private “you” when it is sensible. And should you want a broader label, keep on with “older adults.”
As a substitute of:
- Aged individuals are at larger threat for falls.
- All seniors want the pneumococcal vaccine.
- Geriatric populations could profit from tai chi to keep up steadiness.
Attempt:
- If you happen to’re age 65 or older, you’re at larger threat for falls.
- All adults age 65 and older want the pneumococcal vaccine.
- Tai chi might help you preserve your steadiness as you become older.
The underside line: When writing for older adults, skip the oldfangled labels and simply specify the age vary.