In serving the aging network, communicating effectively with people from all walks of life is important. Communication 

can be most effective when linguistic accommodation and health literacy are considered.

What is Linguistic Accommodation?

Linguistic accommodation is the process in a conversation where a speaker will adjust their pronunciation, phrasing, 

or other characteristics of language according to the style of speech of the other participant in the conversation. An 

example would be when a teenager is speaking to a grandparent versus a teenage friend. The teenager may change 

their language (linguistic accommodation) to speak slower and more clearly to the grandparent rather than speaking 

more quickly and in slang terms with a group of friends.

What is Health Literacy?

Consumers’ life differences can significantly impact their understanding of health materials provided. This is called health 

literacy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define two types of health literacy:

• Personal health literacy is “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information 

and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”

• Organizational health literacy is “the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, 

and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”

The definitions help to:

• Emphasize people’s ability to use health information rather than just understand it

• Focus on the ability to make ‘well-informed’ decisions rather than ‘appropriate’ ones

• Acknowledge that organizations have a responsibility to address health literacy

• Incorporate a public health perspective

A study found that health literacy is strongly associated with patients’ being able to engage in complex disease 

management and self-care. Patients who are unable to successfully interpret health information have increased 

hospitalization rates, develop more diseases, and experience higher mortality. Low health literacy is associated with 

patients who are older, have limited education, lower income, chronic conditions, and those who are non-native English 

speakers. It was concluded that health literacy should be routinely assessed as the population continues to age and 

live with complex comorbid conditions. It is the role of an aging network professional to incorporate health literacy into 

standard operating procedures with ready- and easy-to-use tools (Source).

The role of those serving the aging network is to help enable consumers to understand the health information being 

provided and how to use the information to make decisions that are right for the consumer.

Why is it Important?

A study found that individuals with low health literacy were significantly more likely than individuals with adequate health 

literacy to delay or forego needed care or to report difficulty finding a provider, even after controlling for other factors 

including health insurance coverage, employment, race/ethnicity, poverty, and general cognitive function. Bottom line: 

Health literacy matters for access to care (Source).

Steps to Address Health Literacy:

It is important to understand that messages can be misunderstood at any level. It is reported that the average adult can 

understand messages that are written at or below an eighth-grade reading level (source). Some steps include:

• Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and jargon and use an active voice in written communications. The 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a resource to help provide easier-to-understand language as an 

alternative to public health jargon that is commonly used among professionals. 

• Use a readability formula. A common readability formula is The SMOG Index. Other readability tools include 

Readable, Readability Checker, and Web FX Readability Test.

• Use a variety of communication methods. Written materials could include photos, charts and graphs to help 

consumers visualize data as well as links to videos. 

In conclusion, creating resources, completing nutrition education and ultimately reaching targeted consumers with !health literacy in mind will take time, but each will also ensure services are offered in a more equitable way.

This project was supported in part by grant number 90PPNU0002 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, 

Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view 

or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.