AARP’s overarching vision is a society that allows all people to live with dignity and purpose and to fulfill their goals and dreams. AARP’s public policies and priorities provide the essential foundation for all of the organization’s work in empowering people to choose how they live and age.
Policies serve as the foundation of AARP’s work to lead positive social change and to deliver value to members through advocacy, service and information. They have been developed through a careful and ongoing process to reflect the concerns we hear from members, volunteers and experts around the country.
AARP Policy Fundamentals highlights the paramount goals and underlying values that shape AARP’s public policies and are aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities. A more comprehensive and detailed look at the association’s policies can be found in the AARP Policy Book.
Download a printable PDF version of the AARP Policy Fundamentals or learn more below.
The policies seek to improve the lives of individuals, communities of all kinds and society as a whole, particularly in the following areas, described in greater detail on the following pages:
Better Health
To live longer, healthier lives people should be empowered to engage in positive health behaviors and supported by a strong public health system. People also need access to affordable, high-quality health care, prescription drugs, and long-term services and supports as well as social engagement. Programs and policies that enable and help offset the costs of family caregiving are essential. In addition, maintaining and improving cognitive health is critical to increasing quality of life as people age.
Financial Resilience
For people to enjoy economic security as they age, they need a strong Social Security system and better opportunities to build savings throughout their lives and to work as long as they desire and are able. Protection from age discrimination in employment and a strong social safety net are crucial.
Livable Communities
People of all incomes, ages, ability levels, and backgrounds need communities where they can thrive and live meaningful lives. Communities should be designed to promote physical independence, safety, dignity, and opportunities for community engagement and choice as people age.
Consumer and Individual Rights and Protections
Everyone should be treated fairly, with their rights respected, as consumers in the marketplace and as individuals in their community. They should be free from discrimination and have the chance to live a dignified life grounded in independence and choice.
Fully executing these policies requires citizens to maintain trust and confidence in the government. This, in turn, requires all levels of government to be accountable to the people, with strong democratic processes and institutions. The government must work for everyone, and everyone’s voice must matter.
In addition, to ensure that people of all incomes, ability levels, and backgrounds across all geographic locations can benefit from policies and programs, it is imperative to eliminate disparities across all of AARP’s issue areas. Systemic disparities, particularly those affecting groups that are discriminated against, have contributed to lack of access to health care, safe living conditions, equal work opportunities, and livable communities. Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive as they age.
Our Public Policy Development Process
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AARP’s process of developing policies is designed to keep the organization at the vanguard of issues that shape the lives of Americans as they live and age, now and in the future. AARP’s Board of Directors oversees the process and ensures its adherence to the organization’s mission and purpose. The Office of Policy Development and Integration, under the direction of the Chief Public Policy Officer, facilitates the process.
The issues facing older adults and their families continue to evolve, creating important challenges for policy. AARP is committed to considering these concerns from diverse perspectives and assessing a range of options to provide innovative and meaningful solutions for all.
Toward that end, our approach includes extensive input and analysis of the views of AARP members and others age 50 and older throughout the nation. AARP staff and volunteers, as well as internal and external policy experts from across the country, contribute to our inclusive, thoughtful process.
More About AARP Policies
AARP’s public policies serve as the foundation of our work to fight for people 50-plus and help them choose how they live and age. A more comprehensive and detailed look at AARP policies can be found in the AARP Policy Book.