The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital health tools, yet disparities persist among older adults. This cross-sectional study examined digital health literacy (DHL) and its influence on preventive health behaviors in 1,000 adults aged 60 and above across five U.S. states. Higher DHL scores were significantly associated with increased vaccine uptake, adherence to mask mandates, and online consultation use (p < 0.01). However, older adults from rural and lower-income backgrounds demonstrated substantially lower DHL scores. Findings highlight the necessity of tailored digital inclusion strategies to promote equitable access to online health resources and informed decision-making in aging populations.

Keywords:
digital health literacy, aging, COVID-19, health equity, health behavior