Literacy has become an important predictor of well being in old age. Being literate in today's society demands a myriad of functional abilities, which, when absent, can have dramatic health, economic, and social consequences. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for defining literacy within an increasingly technological society, and to explore the experience of illiteracy among older adults. To examine these issues, qualitative data were gathered from an adult literacy program in Hamilton, Ohio. Data collected through these interactions suggest that the devastating effects of illiteracy are exacerbated throughout the lifecourse, resulting in significant disadvantage for older adults.