AARP’s Public Policy Development Process

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 to 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.

Listening to Americans 50+

The policy development process capitalizes on AARP’s innovations as a “listening” organization in touch with our diverse membership through many different channels.

Over the last several years, AARP has significantly increased our focus on listening to the voices of the 50-plus, our members, and our volunteers across the country. AARP has offices in all 50 states, DC and the territories which are highly active in communities nation-wide. AARP has also enhanced its research capacity and regularly surveys our members and the 50 plus on key issues. In addition, AARP has expanded its presence and engagement on social media platforms as well as our real-time response capabilities allowing the organization to receive ongoing input and feedback from our members.

AARP members are a critical component of our policy development as are our volunteers from around the country who stand ready to provide rapid input to policy development.  In addition, we solicit the input of individual volunteers with knowledge and experience in any given area for feedback on specific policy issues we are considering. 

Staying in close touch with the interests and concerns of people age 50 plus allows us to quickly gather the views of a diverse cross-section of volunteers, members, and the public to inform our policy analysis and recommendations.

Neither AARP’s for-profit subsidiary, AARP Services Inc., nor any of the member benefit providers are involved in the process of setting AARP policy.