Elderly people with inadequate health literacy less mindful of health behaviors significance. Study aim: assess health literacy and health risk behaviors among elderly. Design: Descriptive design of research. Settings: the study carried out at two geriatric clubs in Assiut city (Geriatric club in Legitimacy Assembly and Geriatric club of Islamic cultural center). Convenient sample total coverage of all elderly members (200 elderly ) and agreed to participate in the study from (from the half of March 2017 to the end of December 2017). Four tools were used. Tool I: self questionnaire sheet: include personal characteristics and health risk behaviors related questions. Tool II: body mass index (BMI) calculation. Tool III: assessment of health literacy scale. Tool IV: Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine Scale (REALM). Results: 75% of elderly participants had inadequate (low) level of health literacy, also there was statistical significant difference between health literacy level and age P=0.034. Conclusion: low health literacy associated with health behaviors and poor adherence of prescribed medications. Recommendation: evidence-based communication strategies as ‘teach back’ method more effective with clients.