ABSTRACT

The number of adults over age 65 is increasing. Never in the history of the United States have so many adults lived so long and remained so active, productive, and healthy (Cooley et al., 1998). Reading comprehension is an important skill for older adults to employ in maintaining functional independence and quality of life. Understanding and remembering written information is useful in health maintenance and management as well as in continued learning in a variety of areas. Reading comprehension also plays an important role in managing finances and enjoying leisure and recreational activities. For many older adults, reading itself is a favorite leisure activity (e.g., Meyer, Poon, & Talbot, 1999).