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

1. HeLP MN Seniors: A Health Literacy Program for Seniors in Your Community Anne Beschnett, MLIS Liaison and Outreach Librarian, Bio-Medical Library, University of Minnesota Alisha Ellwood, MA, LMFT Chair, Minnesota Health literacy Partnership Health Improvement Project Manager, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

2. 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

3. 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

4. Health literacy level by age - 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), US Dept of Education3

5. 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

6. 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

7. Key Partners • University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries • Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership • Boutwells Landing Senior Living Community • Public Health Consultants

8. HeLP MN Seniors Goal To 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

9. 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)

10. Project Overview - Year one Planning and Implementation • Conduct needs assessment • Develop training and workshop evaluation materials • Hold workshops • Complete outcomes assessment

11. Project Overview - Year two Evaluation and Promotion • Analyze evaluation results • Revise training materials • Promote training program • Facilitate implementation of program throughout Minnesota

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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 questions • Creating a visit plan • AskMe3: know the answers • Discuss current health topics

15. 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

16. 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

17. Website Materials www.healthliteracymn.org/resources/help-mn-seniors Website materials include: • A program guide with helpful tips • A needs assessment focus group guiding questions • Workshop presentations with instructor scripts • Workshop handouts and pre- and post-tests • A post-workshop survey • A website demonstration guide • Contact information

18. Next steps / Action plan • What opportunities exist in your community? • Who can help?

19. Questions? Contact Information: Anne Beschnett, MLIS Alisha Ellwood, MA, LMFT besch015@umn.edualisha.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.htm 2. 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.pdf 3. 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 EducationStatistics. 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