Health, Wellness and Literacy

Literacy involves comprehension and being about to use information to function and grow effectively.  It is a key factor in the ability to communicate effectively and in understanding and appropriately acting upon verbal directions.  Literacy skills help people to deal with change and unfamiliar news, contexts or conditions. These are all factors closely related to health and wellness.



Action Read's Health Group Charting Progress Towards their Health Goals

 

Here are some ‘tips’ to help health care workers identify if someone may have a literacy challenge.* 

• Frequently returns for health-related services
• Routinely misses scheduled appointments
• Arrives for appointments without completed forms
• Never refers to written information they have received
• Avoids filling out forms and questionnaires
• Relies on others to read materials for them
• Bring family members to appointments as a surrogate reader
• Claims to have vision or other problems to avoid reading
• Asks a lot of questions or does not ask any questions at all
• Ignores or misunderstands advice/ instructions (e.g. medications)
• Reads slowly with obvious effort
• Reads something faster than expected with no comprehension
• Never jots down instructions
• Exhibits facial signs of frustration or anxiety while reading
• Attempts to read material upside down
• Has problems understanding how to access appropriate services

 

What can you do if you think someone has literacy challenges?

•  Remember that someone who struggles with literacy probably has many other strengths and talents.  It’s important to acknowledge this in how you talk to them.
•  Many people see literacy as a black and white issue – either you have it or you don’t.  Most times this isn’t the case.  Sometimes it might be one area of reading that is presenting a challenge, which can through off everything else.  Services like Action Read can identify challenges quite specifically and offer a practical plan to address these challenges.
•  Explain why you think Action Read might help.  Be concrete about how specific skill improvements could help them achieve their goals.
•  Use positive language. The decision to work on literacy skills is a big step for anyone.
• Don’t pressure someone to call.  Our program requires commitment.  Adults are more likely to follow through when they make their own decisions.

*These tips were provided by a volunteer many years ago.  Unfortunately the source has been lost.

 

Participants (including Guelph Community Foundation executive director Chris Willard on right) listening to a speaker at the Wellness Fair.





Meditation is helpful for mental health