AARP NATIONAL
www.aarp.org
MISSION
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization open to members beginning at age 50. With a membership of nearly 38 million that AARP helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families — such as health care, employment and income security, and protection from financial abuse.
SOCIAL IMPACT - CREATING REAL POSSIBILITIES
Enhancing the quality of life for all as we age — not just serving our nearly 38 million members — is our mission. At its heart, the work that AARP and its affiliates do can be summed up in just 12 words: “We fight for and equip each individual to live their best life.” It’s all about real possibilities.
WHAT GUIDES US? LISTENING TO YOU
Input from AARP's diverse membership shapes everything we do as an organization. Feedback comes from surveys, public opinion polls, phone calls, emails, social media, face-to-face conversations with volunteer leaders and staff, letters to the editors of our publications and more. Members' views shape our decisions about everything from advocacy positions to volunteer opportunities to new online health tools.
AARP HISTORY
Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired high school principal, founded AARP in 1958. AARP evolved from the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA), which Dr. Andrus had established in 1947 to promote her philosophy of productive aging, and in response to the need of retired teachers for health insurance.
At that time, private health insurance was virtually unavailable to older Americans; in fact, it was not until 1965 that the government enacted Medicare, which provides health benefits to persons over age 65. Dr. Andrus approached dozens of insurance companies until she found one willing to take the risk of insuring older persons. She then developed other benefits and programs, including a discount mail order pharmacy service.
Over the years NRTA heard from thousands of others who wanted to know how they could obtain insurance and other NRTA benefits without being retired teachers. After ten years, Dr. Andrus realized the time had come to create a new organization open to all Americans. Today, NRTA is a division within AARP.
In 1963, Dr. Andrus established an international presence for AARP by founding the Association of Retired Persons International (ARPI), with offices in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Washington, D.C. While ARPI disbanded in 1969, AARP has continued to develop networks and form coalitions within the worldwide aging community, promoting the well-being of older persons internationally through advocacy, education and service.
Since its inception in 1958, AARP has grown and changed dramatically in response to societal changes, while remaining true to its founding principles:
▪ To promote independence, dignity and purpose for older persons
▪ To enhance the quality of life for older persons
▪ To encourage older people "To serve, not to be served“