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Last updated on December 1, 2008

AARP is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age. We lead positive social change and deliver value to members through information, advocacy, and service.

Description:
AARP is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of persons 50 and older. Through information and education, advocacy and service, we seek to enhance the quality of life for all by promoting independence, dignity and purpose.

We work to shape and enrich the experience of aging for all and strive to live the motto that Dr. Andrus gave the Association: "To serve, not to be served." We serve our members and society primarily in four ways:

• By providing quality information and education
  
  
• Through legislative, legal and consumer advocacy at the national, state and local levels
  
  
• By providing opportunities for service and involvement in their communities
  
  
• By making available a wide range of products and services to our members
  
  

We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Working with our National Community Service Programs and an extensive network of local AARP chapters and NRTA network of retired educators, these offices enable AARP to reach and engage members, volunteers, the media, community partners, and policy-makers in carrying out our mission.

AARP members who volunteer are the heart of our Association. The members of our Board of Directors and our National Officers are all unpaid volunteers, as are our field volunteer directors, state presidents and thousands of legislative and program volunteers and chapter leaders. They are involved in advocacy at the national and state levels as well as innovative community service and education programs, including: tax-preparation assistance; driver training and re-education; independent living programs and much more.

AARP is a strong advocate on behalf of people 50+ for important issues, including: ensuring the long-term solvency of Social Security; protecting pensions; fighting age discrimination; prescription drug coverage in Medicare; patient protections in managed care and long-term care; anti-predatory home loan lending; and other protections for older consumers. AARP advocates in the nation's capital, in state houses across the country and in the courts on behalf of AARP members and their families.

We make sure their voices are heard.

History:
Founded in 1958 by retired California educator, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons) today represents more than 35 million members. About half of our members are working, either full or part-time, while the others are retired. Nearly a third of our members are under the age of 60.

The collective strength of our membership enables us to serve the broader community, improving the quality of life for people as they get older. We know that healthy aging requires an early start; therefore, our social responsibility extends to all segments of American society. It also includes sharing strategies and information with organizations across the world that are involved with the issues of global aging.

AARP Wisconsin is a satellite office of the AARP National office in Washington, DC. There are 780,000 AARP members in Wisconsin. We are located in Madison with a full-time staff of 8.

AARP Wisconsin is active in shaping laws that affect the quality of life for individuals age 50+ in Wisconsin. Some of our accomplishments include:

• AARP Wisconsin was an active member of the coalition that persuaded lawmakers to protect funding for many critical medical services to the frail elderly and the disabled.
  
  
• AARP Wisconsin joined the Board on Aging & Long-Term Care and others to oppose a bill that made it harder to guarantee the quality of care received by residents of nursing homes. The bill in question died in committee.
  
  
• Governor Doyle has vetoed a bill strongly opposed by AARP Wisconsin and others that barred individuals working as companions to the frail or disabled from receiving overtime pay.
  
  
• AARP Wisconsin worked out a compromise with the author of Older Driver legislation that makes functional impairment, not age, the basis for new testing regulations. The Older Driver bill also died in committee.
  
  
• AARP Wisconsin won critical changes in laws that would otherwise have made it much harder for individuals to obtain compliance with end-of-life directives from healthcare providers.



Contact people:


Mariann Muzzi, Community Outreach, (608) 286-6303, (email) Jenn Baier, Program Coordinator, (608) 286-6300, (email)


Office fax number: (608) 251-7612

Address:


222 W. Washington Avenue, Suite 600 Madison, WI 53703 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.aarp.org/states/wi/

Directions:

2 blocks south of the State Capitol in downtown Madison. Free on-site parking is available.

Miscellaneous Information

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