Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right…. Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.” – Kofi Annan
September 8, 2023, is World Literacy Day but for many of us literacy is an afterthought. From a young age, we’ve been fortunate enough to receive the education and support to learn these skills. Yet, 773 million people are illiterate worldwide, including 21% of Americans over the age of 18. Today, we’ll explore the benefits and blockers to literacy. Specifically, we’ll look at how it affects seniors.
What is literacy?
The definition of literacy is always evolving because the technological landscape is rapidly changing. At the core, it’s the ability to read, write and use numbers to learn, create and communicate effectively. This includes using them in the digital landscape.
The power of literacy
Economic opportunity: Literacy allows us to participate in the job market doing more skilled worked. This means we earn more money, which reduces poverty. This positively impacts the economic, emotional, and physical health of individuals and communities.
Social participation: Literacy lets us communicate well with others. We can express our needs and opinions, and understand others’ effectively. Literacy helps us build meaningful relationships, connect with our community, and participate in civic activities (like voting and politics).
Knowledge and life-long learning: Literacy lets us access tons of information about the world. This helps us make more informed decisions about many aspects of life, from health to hobbies. It also encourages continuous learning, which allows us to adapt to a fast-changing world. We can learn about new technologies, scientific findings, etc.
Independence: Literacy encourages us to live safe, self-sufficient lives. Navigating city streets, understanding medication instructions, and answering emails are important daily tasks that require literacy skills.
Negative impact of illiteracy
Seniors who have low or no literacy skills may experience:
- Less economic opportunity and lower income
- Low self-esteem and feelings of shame and powerlessness
- Social isolation
- Inability to reach full potential
- Higher health risks caused by not being able to read critical health and safety instructions, or understand available health resources
- Increased vulnerability to disinformation and scams
Barriers to literacy for seniors
Poverty: Poverty can contribute to illiteracy in many ways. Hunger, unstable housing, or a lack of resources can negatively impact learning. Seniors may have left school to work, or lacked the proper physical or mental conditions to learn. School aside, seniors who are currently impoverished may also lack the time or emotional capacity to dedicate to learning literacy skills.
Negative school experiences: Bad teachers, bullying, learning disabilities, or interrupted schooling may have made it hard to learn literacy skills. Because of this, some seniors may have felt anxiety in school, harming their ability to learn. Or, they may have dropped out entirely.
Lack of access: Seniors may lack resources or community support to help with literacy skills, especially if they’re socially isolated. In terms of digital literacy, they may not have computers, mobile phones or Wi-Fi, or not understand this technology enough to use it fully.
How to learn literacy skills
- Ask a friend or family member for support, either to teach literacy skills or to help find resources.
- Hire a private tutor
- Enroll in a local or online adult literacy program. It might be helpful to seek out others in the same position. Having mutual support and understanding can keep motivation strong.
- If a learning disability is suspected, visit a mental health professional for a formal screening. This helps determine which specific supports will best suit the learner’s literacy goals.
- Be patient. Learning might be frustrating, and that’s okay. Even so, we should be mindful to be kind to ourselves. Putting ourselves down will only slow our learning.
Key takeaways
Literacy encourages:
- Financial stability
- Fulfillment of goals and dreams
- Independence
- Self-confidence and belief in our own abilities
- Safety when navigating the world
- Social participation and influence
- A deeper connection with others
Sources
https://education.seattlepi.com/socioeconomic-diversity-schools-2208.html
https://www.essaysusa.com/article/adult-illiteracy-and-how-to-overcome-it
https://ourworldindata.org/literacy
https://uis.unesco.org/en/topic/literacy
“