Background
Health literacy and cultural diversity matters are a chief concern in the United States and most countries across the world in general. There is a significant percentage of the population that is under such menace. Issues concerning health literacy rely on both systematic and individualistic factors. The question is especially prevalent among the aged people who are 65 years and above and has low standards of speaking the English language proficiently. In the same regard, most of them have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English. That is attributed to the fact several languages are spoken across the United States that ranges to approximately 153 and English are not the only preferred option to them. English is not their primary language, and that hampers effective communication between the older persons and the healthcare professionals who are majorly trained in English ( Betancourt et al., 2016) . Health literacy is dependent on both systemic and professional factors. That incorporates laypersons and professional’s communication skills, culture, public health systems and healthcare demands, and contextual needs. Cultural diversity plays a crucial role in healthcare. Diverse cultures harbor different views concerning health to expound on the causes of illness amongst individuals, how the diseases can be preserved or cured, and fundamentally who should be convoluted in such a process. Cultural diversity can be an integral source of frustration for both healthcare professionals and patients and as a result, can cause poor health outcomes. A cultural competence practice is critical and can catalyze health outcomes, patient satisfaction and reduces frustration rates. Healthcare literacy and cultural differences provide a significant bearing on the outcome of most healthcare operations. An individual’s culture and awareness will influence the kind of medication that they can take ( Betancourt et al., 2016) . Some patients believe on the traditional values concerning medication and thus avoid the hospital institutions.
The degree to which individuals perceive patient health literacy and their cultural attachment to it can have a profound influence on the way receive the information that is delivered to them and utmost, their willingness to utilize it. The civilized Western Nations, for instance, the United States of America visualize disease as a scientific phenomenon that is natural and therefore, advocate for medicines for treatment with the view of combating microorganisms or make proper utilization of sophisticated technology help in diagnosis and final treatment of the disease ( Betancourt et al., 2016) . Other societies tend to believe that conditions are. As a result, some sought of supernatural occurrences and advocated for prayer and other spiritual advances that are in a position to counter the presumed disfavor of the powerful pressures. The culture of a patient plays a pivotal mandate in the compliance of a patient. This article is aimed at the diagnosis of the separate viewpoints of different viewpoints of the culture of the Pacific Islanders on health, wellness, disease prevention, and treatment. The Asians also called the Pacific Islanders, from one of the largest ethnic society present in the United States of America. They give some viewpoints with special regards to their cultural beliefs that the healthcare practitioners need to be aware of. The extended bit of the family and the oldest male figure in the household is majorly the critical maker of decisions and family spokesman with regards to healthcare facilities and administration ( Betancourt et al., 2016) .
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Statement of the Problem
Health literacy and cultural differences play a critical role in determining the direction of healthcare. The duo influences health outcomes in a significant way. Most persons have limited ability to navigate through healthcare systems encompassing filling out of complicated forms and finding providers and services. Some cultural boundaries make patients to the extent that they cannot easily share personal information, for instance, health history with the caregivers. Some patients find it challenging to understand mathematical ideas such as risk and probability. The highest patient is the older persons. They are culturally-bound, and it is not easy to change their older belief systems. Older persons are the highest growing division in the United States population. Low Health literacy (LHL) and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) are a significant concern for the aged persons and the care professionals who are charged with the mandate of taking care of the elderly. It is well-known that a majority of older have partial healthy health literacy matters. Also, some have poor communication skills and unusually low standards of speaking the conventional English Language, and limited health education has led to strained ways of managing medications. Elderly persons are faced with a continuous health malfunctions that continue to seek medications at every single time.
Purpose Statement
The concepts people have concerning health, the languages in use, the degree of health literacy ability, and the contexts under which they communicate on matters regarding health have a reflection on their culture. Institutions can increase effectiveness in communication when they identify and bridge disparities in cultures that might contribute to ineffectiveness in communication. Cultural diversity can be taken positively and as such becomes an advantage in healthcare practice. This piece of research intends to analyze health literacy and cultural difference issues and their general contribution to healthcare practice.
Objectives of the Study
Caregivers have long assumed health literacy matters and cultural diversity in this line of profession. A majority of persons, especially the older persons, have succumbed to death due to low health literacy. Others have equally have compromised their safety medical practices due to the strict adherence their cultural way of doing things. This study aims to identify the cultural issues that affect healthcare; and the extent of the influences of such topics. Culture permits and quickly gets into the order of communication. Also, the study targets at achieving culturally skilled practices in the work arena. Further, to come up with transformational ideas of embracing diversity at individual, organization, group and healthcare systems levels. The study highlights the educational needs and strategies to ascertain a culturally savvy staff. It research prompts the need to develop Educational resources that effectively address the menace of communication and healthy literacy matters among the high number of the older population. Lastly, the study aims at coming up with policy changes to provide support and sustain health literacy and culturally competent ideas ( Koh & Rudd, 2015) .
Assumptions
Ethnic and racial minorities are most likely to have low literacy levels. That is probably influenced by cultural disparities, differing educational standards and language barriers. The Latino patients have the same cultural beliefs. That affects the nature of treatment. Some doctors use lots of jargons while addressing patients and thus hamper their understanding of the treatment plan. According to Koh and Rudd (2015) , some caregivers judge patients on the nature and color of their skin and therefore affect their professional and fair treatment of the patients. Some patients cannot read, write not understand mathematical formulas used in the healthcare practice arena.
Limitations of the Study
Presently, most information is extracted from the internet. Majority of persons with low literacy levels have an enormous problem retrieving such kinds of information. In the event a researcher comes from a different ethnic orientation, the respondents become more reserved with details due to the language barrier. Some older persons are weak and thus accessing healthcare resource centers like hospitals become a challenge. Other limitations include financial constraints. Purnell (2014) confirmed that m edical consultation fee is expensive, and hence people resort to cheaper and convenient traditional means of treatment. That might lead to adverse findings since a majority fails to attend the health facilities. There is a limited human resource in areas of people that work in areas with the populace with Limited English Proficiency. That hampers the quality of study due to the inadequate workforce. Some patients avoid attending hospitals due to long wait hours caused by the long queues ( Purnell, 2014) .
Definition of Terms
Health Literacy
The extent to which persons can extract essential information and services on health that is required to make updated and relevant health decisions. It involves obtaining, understanding and acting on the health concerns to promote and maintain efficient standards of health
Low Health Literacy
This is little understanding of the health-related information. Such information includes filling out of forms; health related mathematical computations etc
Culture
This incorporates all aspects of ideas, behavior and customs that are shared by a particular group of people that live together and forming a society
Cultural Diversity
A phenomenon in varied spectrums of the society that comes into play when the variances in ethnicity, race, ability, language, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender are represented within a particular setup or community. The community can either be region, neighbourhood, company, school, or city. A culturally diverse group has a broad variety of teams that are represented.
Limited English proficiency
People who have little understanding, both in writing and speech, of the conventional English Language. They are, therefore, not capable of effectively communicating with the caregivers. That hampers delivery of service.
Elderly Persons
People who have attained the age bracket of 65 years and above. They are the most hit by health literacy and cultural difference matters.
References
Betancourt, J. R., Green, A. R., Carrillo, J. E., & Owusu Ananeh-Firempong, I. I. (2016). Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and healthcare. Public health reports .
Koh, H. K., & Rudd, R. E. (2015). The arc of health literacy. Jama , 314 (12), 1225-1226.
Purnell, L. D. (2014). Guide to culturally competent health care . FA Davis.
