The guide highlights the positive impact of improving health literacy for adults

A new guide launched today, Tuesday 2 May, by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) will play a significant role in improving the health and wellbeing of adults in Ireland.

The guide, Well now!, is specially designed for people working in adult literacy and community education services who wish to provide literacy friendly courses on health and wellbeing for adults. It is based on a 10 week literacy friendly course on health and wellbeing that was delivered to older adults in South Dublin in 2015 and 2016. A literacy friendly course is one that takes account of and supports the literacy and numeracy needs of its participants. The course was delivered in partnership between a local authority (South Dublin County Council), a local adult education provider (An Cosán, Tallaght) and local health services and professionals.

As a result of being on the course, many of the participants said they had taken up some physical activity, such as walking, pitch and putt, dancing and tai chi. Others said they introduced new healthy eating habits into their daily routine after doing the course. People also said that the course improved their confidence in communicating with healthcare providers. For example, having done the course participants felt better prepared to ask relevant questions during visits to their doctor.

Inez Bailey, CEO, NALA said: “Having and maintaining good health and wellbeing is essential in today’s world. The guidelines included in Well now! give people an opportunity to reflect on health and wellbeing while gaining the knowledge, understanding and new skills necessary to make small changes to become healthier. We hope the guide will be a useful resource to adult literacy and community education services around Ireland to help with planning, designing and facilitating similar courses in their area.”

The course outlined in Well now! is a practical demonstration of how to improve health literacy in Ireland. Health literacy is the ability to read, understand and act on health information and it is closely connected with health outcomes. Improving health literacy is one of the aims of Healthy Ireland, a Government-led initiative to create an Irish society where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health, and where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society.

The Well now! guide was launched at the opening of South Dublin County Council’s Bealtaine Festival by Mayor Guss O’Connell in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin 22.

To download a copy of the guide please click here.

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For media queries please contact:

Patrick Gleeson, Communications Officer, National Adult Literacy Agency

01 412 7916 / 086 7925 363 or pgleeson@nala.ie