Health literacy is the idea of individuals having the capacity to obtain, process and fully understand the basic health information needed to make the best health decisions for themselves. According to the Health Resources & Services Administration, low health literacy is more prevalent among older adults, so promoting and improving health literacy is important for this group. The more honest and transparent you are with your doctor, and the better you understand your personal care plan, the higher health literacy you will have, and the more confidence you will have in making your own healthcare decisions.