HeLP MN Seniors: A Health Literacy Program for Seniors in Your Community

Anne Beschnett, MLISLiaison and Outreach Librarian, Bio-Medical Library, University of Minnesota

Alisha Ellwood, MA, LMFTChair, Minnesota Health literacy Partnership Health Improvement Project Manager, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Learning objectives

After this session, you will be able to:

Understand and present information from the HeLP MN Seniors program

Utilize measurement resources to enhance program effectiveness

Apply strategies and techniques to empower seniors to ask questions and be more successful in finding online health information

Health & Seniors

There are over 36 million adults over the age of 65 in the U.S.1

Seniors make up 13% of the population, but 36% of all hospital stays2

25% consider themselves in fair or poor health1

Health literacy level by age

- 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), US Dept of Education3

Seniors and the internet

As of 2009, 38% of seniors are turning to the Internet for information, up from 18% in 2007 and 7% in 20014

National Network of Libraries of Medicine Support

NN/LM GMR Consumer Health Subcontract

Funding to cover staff time, program materials, website re-design, marketing efforts

http://nnlm.gov/gmr/funding/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/ForApplicants.html

Key Partners

University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries

Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership

Boutwells Landing Senior Living Community

Public Health Consultants

HeLP MN Seniors

GoalTo develop an evidence-based program to improve the health literacy of seniors in Minnesota

Objectives Design and pilot a health literacy training

program Develop and reproduce a training guide Expand HeLP MN Seniors across Minnesota

Alignment with National Call to Action

Promote changes in the healthcare system that improve health information, communication, informed decision-making, and access to health services (goal 2)

Support and expand local efforts to provide adult education…in the community (goal 4)

Increase the dissemination and use of evidence-based health literacy practices and interventions (goal 7)

Project Overview - Year one

Planning and Implementation

Conduct needs assessment Develop training and workshop evaluation

materials Hold workshops Complete outcomes assessment

Project Overview - Year two

Evaluation and Promotion

Analyze evaluation results Revise training materials Promote training program Facilitate implementation of program

throughout Minnesota

Needs Assessment

Many concerned about staying informed Many worried about others’ ability to self-

advocate Main sources of information are providers,

information sheets, and Internet resources Many concerned about drugs, healthcare costs,

and access to personal health information

HeLP MN Seniors - Our program

Two, 1½ hour workshops Health Literacy: Communicating Effectively with Health

Care Providers Finding Accurate and Reliable Health Information on

the Internet Each workshop had a pre and post test Workshops were advertised in facility

newsletters, by postcards, closed circuit TV, posters, fliers and registration events

Workshop I: Communicating with Health Care Providers

Tips for communicating effectively with health care providers / making the most of their health care experience including:

Asking questionsCreating a visit planAskMe3: know the answers

Discuss current health topics

Workshop II: Finding Health Information on the Internet

Evaluating information on the Internet

Hands-on demonstrations MedlinePlus My Health Minnesota -> Go Local NIH Senior Health AHRQ: Questions are the Answer

Results

Participants showed increases on every post-test measure

Participants used several workshop tools including visit plans and MedlinePlus

Participants felt more empowered to ask questions and more successful in finding online health information

Website Materials

www.healthliteracymn.org/resources/help-mn-seniors

Website materials include:A program guide with helpful tipsA needs assessment focus group guiding questionsWorkshop presentations with instructor scriptsWorkshop handouts and pre- and post-testsA post-workshop surveyA website demonstration guideContact information

Next steps / Action plan

What opportunities exist in your community?

Who can help?

Questions?

Contact Information:Anne Beschnett, MLIS Alisha Ellwood, MA, LMFTbesch015@umn.edu alisha.ellwood@healthliteracymn.org Phone: 612-625-9603 Phone: 651-662-0986

References:1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2008). Older Persons’ Health [Internet]. NCHS Faststats. 2008 .Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/older_americans.htm2. Elixhause,r A., Yu, K., Steiner, C., Bierman, A.S. (2000). Hospitalization in the United States, 1997. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/data/hcup/factbk1/hcupfbk1.pdf3. Kutner, M., Greenberg, E., Jin,Y., and Paulsen, C. (2006). The Health Literacy of America’s Adults: Results From the 2003 NationalAssessment of Adult Literacy (NCES 2006–483).U.S.Department of Education.Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Available from: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/2006483.pdf.4. Rainie, L. (2010). Internet, broadband, and cell phone statistics. Washington, D.C: Pew Internet & American Life Project. Available at:

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Internet-broadband-and-cell-phone-statistics.aspx?r=1