CONGRUENCE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND READING LEVELS OF OLDER PERSONS

The educational levels of 57 middle-aged and elderly persons were comp ared with their reading levels as assessed by the Wide Range Achieveme nt Test-Reading. Participants were recruited from mental health and co mmunity settings in a predominantly black community, Thirty-six partic ipants (63 percent) were reading at a median of five years below their educational level, Forms used in the settings were written at a eve a bove the reading ability of most participants, Results suggest that ol der pel sons may have difficulty comprehending written instructions fo r medications and diets and that such materials should be written at l ower than an eighth-grade level.