Health Literacy 101: DPT Students, Faculty Spread Knowledge, Awareness to Older Pennsylvanians

For many older adults, health literacy can be complex and challenging. Stephen Carp, Ph.D., associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, is championing a way to change that.

Carp helped to launch The Partnership Program, a combined effort between the Pennsylvania legislature, the American Physical Therapy Association Pennsylvania, and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs across the Commonwealth.

The goal: to help older adults understand health-related information so they can make the best decisions for themselves.

“Health literacy is a skill,” says Carp, who is also a geriatric certified specialist and serves as advocacy chair and ethics chair of the American Physical Therapy Association Pennsylvania. “Too many seniors make uninformed decisions which result in poor health outcomes, lack of intervention for chronic and acute diseases, and inordinate expense.”

Carp enlisted two first-year DPT students, Abbey Hafler D’27 and Michala Lerman D’27. On Dec. 3, the two presented to a group of older adults at Lansdale Borough Hall alongside DPT students from Arcadia University, as well as State Senator Maria Collette and State Representative Steve Malagari.

The group touched on basic healthcare knowledge, like the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, deductibles, copays, in-patient versus outpatient networking, and the importance of regular healthcare screenings.

“A lot of times, the geriatric population is dismissed,” says Lerman. “We want them to know that they have support. Even in physical therapy, you can see the stress of paying a copay sometimes. Being able to provide those resources for them is so important.” 

Lerman and Hafler also took vital signs, screened for fall risks, and demonstrated sit-to-stand exercises. The two will be visiting a senior center in Souderton, Montgomery County, in February for a similar presentation. They will also soon begin working with students in the 18 DPT programs across the Commonwealth, instructing them on skills related to health literacy. Those students and their faculties will then join with their local legislators to present the content to older adults across Pennsylvania. 

“For me, it’s knowing that I can help,” says Hafler. “We’re students right now, and we’re learning every single day. Being able to go out in the community and actually do what we’re learning is a highlight.”