A Decade of Achievements for AARP’s Leader

Ten years after taking the helm at AARP, CEO Jo Ann Jenkins is stepping down. Here is a snapshot of her influence on aging in America.

Boe Workman,

AARP

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En español

Published November 08, 2024

collage of headlines and photo of jo ann jenkins speaking at a podium

Stephen Voss; AARP (2)

Jo Ann Jenkins changed the conversation about what it means to grow older in this country, challenging outdated attitudes and stereotypes.

She wrote the best-selling book Disrupt Aging, published in 2016. Her efforts also included creating AARP Innovation Labs to help shape the future of aging with new technology, and later the AgeTech Collaborative, which brings together more than 525 organizations to create products to benefit people 50-plus. AARP established the Innovation Fund in 2015 with a commitment of $40 million to invest in companies focused on aging in place and access to health care.

Supported Family Caregivers. She bolstered family caregivers through strong advocacy at the state and national level, providing them with crucial programs and resources, and ensured that family caregivers were front and center alongside paid care workers in a 2023 Biden administration executive order on the care economy. She pushed for passage of the CARE Act, now in 42 states, which provides family caregivers of hospitalized patients with the skills needed to help those leaving the hospital.

Led the Fight Against Dementia and for Better Brain Health. During Jenkins’ tenure, the AARP Brain Health Fund committed $60 million to the Dementia Discovery Fund, a venture capital fund that invests in dementia cures. AARP also created the Global Council on Brain Health as an independent organization to provide trusted information on how to maintain and improve brain health.

Helped People Achieve and Protect Retirement Savings. Since 2019, AARP has driven the expansion of access to workplace retirement savings in 20 states, lowering the number of workers without access to a retirement account.

Provided Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic. As the COVID pandemic swept the country, AARP worked to expand access to telemedicine and paid sick leave, while advocating for increased consumer protections, safe access to voting, and protection for those in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Lowered Prescription Drug Costs. Jenkins led a nationwide effort to keep Rx drug price reductions in the Inflation Reduction Act and get the legislation passed. As a result, Medicare now negotiates for lower drug prices, insulin costs are capped at $35 a month for people on Medicare, many vaccines are available free of charge and, beginning in 2025, those on Medicare won’t have to pay more than $2,000 a year for medications. States have passed 165 laws or executive actions since 2019 reducing out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans.

Established AARP as a Leader on Global Aging Issues. Jenkins traveled to Europe, Asia and Africa to meet with government officials, confer with leaders of aging organizations and visit agencies serving older adults to learn how they address aging and to share what we have learned in the U.S. She engaged with organizations such as the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on how countries will deal with the needs of aging populations.

It’s no surprise that Jenkins was named by Fortune as one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” and that AARP was named by Ethisphere as one of the world’s most ethical companies.

We’ll have more to say about how AARP will be in capable hands after Jenkins departs. For now, join us in thanking her for a decade of wise leadership as AARP made aging better in America and around the world.

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