Abstract
This paper discusses AARP's role in addressing the needs of older Americans and their work to influence the passage of beneficial legislation on the State and Federal level. The paper examines AARP's major issues such as prescription drugs, long-term care and predator lending and the methods AARP'S use to influence lawmakers. The author is critical of AARP's effectiveness and presents suggestions for improvement.

From the Paper
"American Association of Retired People was founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy and was originally called the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA). The purpose of this organization was to purchase group health insurance for retired school teachers. The AARP grew out of the NRTA with the goal of becoming a broader advocacy group. During their first two years 300,000 new members joined this new organization. Today, the AARP has over 35 million members in all 50 states. They now offer insurance packages and discounts from companies who use AARP as a means to market their product. In an effort to attract Baby Boomers as members they changed their name in 1999 to simply AARP and also lowered the age for membership from 55 to 50. The purpose of this was to encourage Baby Boomers to join, by redesigning themselves to accommodate the needs of this fast growing population over the age of 50."

Tags:legislation, prescription, drugs, long-term, care, predator, lending, marketing, effectiveness, improvement

Abstract
This paper discusses the history, principles and goals of AARP, the leading non profit organization for citizens over age fifty in the United States for whom Medicare is a key issue. Next, the author explains that AARP is lobbying for initiatives surrounding Medicaid policy and investigating how well this federal program is being delivered in individual states. The paper underscores that AARP stresses the importance of the involvement of their members and the general public in the Medicaid reform process.

From the Paper
"A report conducted by the AARP Public Policy Institute looked specifically at what individual states have been able to accomplish under current Medicaid law as well as the impact that federal mandates have on states' ability to balance service delivery. Colorado is a good example of how AARP is working with Medicaid to ensure benefits for older Americans. Colorado was one of the first states to receive federal approval for a Medicaid home and community based services (HCBS) waiver in the 1980s. This means that older Americans who live in their own homes rather than in nursing homes may be eligible for Medicaid benefits."

Tags:lobbying, quality of life, debate participation recommendation

Abstract
The AARP is an active organization that represents the American population over the age of 50. The organization is both accessible and inexpensive to join. It actively advocates for older Americans in many areas, creating a large database of research reports and other information that is available on their website. The work that the organization is currently involved with, on the matters of reverse mortgages and of adult guardianship, are only two of many issues that the organization is actively investigating. This paper examines the AARP and two of the issues that it monitors.

From the Paper
The American Association for Retired Persons Fifty years ago, high school principal Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus identified the need for an association that would represent the American population over the age of 50. Since that time, The American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) has been active in defending the needs of that demographic group, through taking part in advocating for positive social change (AARP.org, 2008, "Overview"). This organization has been vocal in representing its membership base, which currently exceeds 39 million members, as well as offering various services to their members and creating opportunities for mature individuals to "connect, give, and

Tags:aarp, mortgages, guardianship

Abstract
The paper discusses how the AARP conducted a lobbying effort in New York state for the purpose of passing a bulk-buying and marketing-disclosure law in regard to prescription drugs.

From the Paper
"The American Association of Retired Persons or AARP has been involved in New York legislative politics principally in connection with policies about prescription drugs. In ..., for example, AARP lobbied for a law that would enable the state to buy prescription drugs in bulk and mandate passing the savings to uninsured or underinsured residents of New York. The high and rising costs of prescription drugs were described as the rationale for AARP's position. The group also called for disclosure by drug manufacturers of the amount of money they spent..."

Tags:AARP, prescription drugs, public policy, lobbying

Abstract
This paper examines how the growth of both life expectancy and the cost of medical care has resulted in a noticeable reduction of available Medicare funds for use in the near future. It looks at how this rapidly growing reduction of available Medicare funds has emerged as a significant concern for Medicare stakeholders such as the American Associationof Retire Persons (AARP), drug companies, insurance companies and healthcare providers alike. As a result, Medicare has often been a target for reformers in the past few years, as each of these stakeholders has a distinct role in the Medicare system from either a financial or funding standpoint.

Outline:
Introduction
Stakeholders
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The AARP, formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons, is a U.S. based non-profit organization, with the mission of enhancing quality of life for people over age 50 by providing a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for members. The AARP operates as a non-profit advocate for its members, and sells life insurance, investment funds and other financial products. The organization claims over 35 million members and membership is expected to grow significantly as baby boomers age. The AARP plays a role in Medicare from a financial standpoint in that the organization offers products to its members. This is different from the past when social security and pension plans were devised at a time when relatively few people reached the age of sixty-five, and these plans covered their support. "

Tags:insurance, healthcare, providers, aarp

Abstract
This paper covers the much debated issue of the Medicare program?s lack of prescription drug coverage for the elderly and disabled in the US. A brief history of the program itself, descriptions of and actions taken by the key players in the debate, including the Medicare recipients themselves, support/interest groups such as the AARP, the government, pharmaceutical agencies, and the American public are included.

From the paper:

"At the time of its establishment in 1965 through to the present, the U.S. Medicare program was designed to provide quality health care services for elderly and disabled Americans. The two-part program provides coverage for hospital visits as well as a limited amount of medical insurance to aid with doctors? bills and things of the like. Although it has always been one of the most popular federal programs among elderly and younger citizens alike, the Medicare program has been and remains to grow progressively ineffective in providing quality health care to its recipients. While issues such as the exclusion of certain medical procedures from Medicare?s coverage realm have come and gone, the single most longstanding issue of debate is that of prescription drugs."

Tags:drug, elderly, prescription, disabled, aarp, pharmaceutical, tax, republican, recipient, medigap, companies, democrat

Abstract
The paper examines how the American Association of Retired People (AARP) has made some definite inroads on improving the benefits, rights and privileges for the senior community. The paper highlights the flaws in the White House proposal to scrap traditional Social Security in favor of personal retirement accounts. The paper demonstrates how aging relatives are treated like burdens by many Americans. The paper compares the US and the UK that both have a blossoming elderly population from the baby boomer generation. The paper discusses how, in general, Europe and North America are leaning increasingly toward privatization. The paper explains that implications include a disenfranchised future elderly population and the inability of many citizens to afford health care services.

From the Paper
"Unfortunately, however, the AARP fights an uphill battle to win back benefits, rights and privileges for the senior community and for all Americans. In particular, the AARP draws attention to H.R. 3997, a bill that would severely curtail consumer privacy by allowing only victims of identity theft to take proactive measures. Consumers would continue have restricted access or no access at all to their own information, even though powerful marketing firms have the opportunity to peruse consumers' personal data. All citizens should oppose HR 3997. Seniors, however, may be particularly at risk for identity theft because of the rapid developments in technology."

Tags:AARP, social, security, old, senior, retirement

Abstract
This paper explains that the Bush Plan states (1) "personal accounts" would be voluntary, (2) social security money would be invested in a "conservative mix of bond and stock funds" which would have the opportunity to earn a higher rate of return than what is being provided now and (3) this would supplement the worker's "traditional social security check". The author presents opponents of this plan including AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), the largest advocacy organization for senior citizens in America, which opposes creating accounts out of the contributions workers currently make into Social Security because such accounts actually worsen Social Security's long-term financial health, draining revenues out of Social Security at the very time boomers begin to retire. The paper concludes that it is important to remember that the Social Security trust fund is not a pile of cash but rather just a bookkeeping gimmick in which one part of the government promises money to another part of the government.

Table of Contents
What is the Bush Plan?
Why is President George Bush Pushing Hard for his Plan
Opposition
Facts about Social Security
Business Week Reporter Paul Craig Roberts
The Bush Campaign
The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
What are Some Proposed Solutions to the Social Security System?
The Conservative Publication the National Review

From the Paper
"The Democrats have countered with ads of their own, according to the Associated Press (Raum, 2005) on Sunday, March 13. The Democrats call Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security "a risky privatization scheme." The Democrats' Saturday radio broadcast on March 12 featured the grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (James Roosevelt Jr.). He said: "In 1935, my grandfather signed the Social Security Act into law, ensuring that Americans retired with financial security." But "unfortunately," he continued, "President Bush and Washington Republicans" do not share the belief of "the guiding principle that America's workers deserve a secure retirement." Roosevelt and other Democrats complain that privatizing Social Security will punish workers "in times of long market downturns," because the investment Bush is talking about on the Wall Street market wouldn't deliver as high a return as it would in economic boom times, the AP story pointed out. The article also mentioned that the most recent AP poll shows the Bush Social Security reform proposals gaining only a 37% positive result from the public."

Tags:accounts, voluntary, invest, boomers, democrats

Abstract
This paper commences by looking into the literature about the conceptions and misconceptions relating to advertising to the now older but still large Baby Boomer generation. Next, the author focuses this literature review on the cell phone service providers themselves. The paper then investigates the writings about the relationship of Baby Boomers to TV commercials and advertising tactics and strategies, which can be effective with this generation.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Conceptions and Misconceptions Relating to Boomers
Appealing to more than One Group of Consumers
Value Exists in Valuing Boomer Business
Missed Connections
Advertising's Potential
Cell Phone Service Providers
A Nationwide 2003 Study by AARP
Another Generation's Cell Phone Preferences
Comparison of Four Cell Phone Service Providers
TV Commercials
Boomers' Knowledge
The "Mainstreaming" Effect
Underlying Messages Matter Boomers' Frontal Lobes Targeted
Effective Advertising Tactics and Strategies
Contemporary Environmental Connections Productive Roles to Serve
Adequate Marketing Theory Needed
Conclusion
Appendix: Table Compares Service Providers

From the Paper
"To enhance and effectively utilize success of advertisements, particularly in TV advertisements, and better connect with Boomers, the largest and wealthiest group in America; in their quests for more certain fiscal futures, businesses must ensure their advertisements relate in ways that foster trust and honesty. Too frequently, like the proverbial "double-edged sword", the ads net some interest, yet simultaneously, at times actually alienate Boomers. For businesses to survive, they must be able to market to this group without offending them."

Tags:message profitable, essential component, buying power, intergenerational interconnections

Abstract
This paper traces the historical growth in power and political influence of organizations that advocate for senior citizens. The paper's analysis maintains that it is not seniors who have become too powerful or immune to government budget cuts, but rather the interests groups who often have an ulterior agenda in mind.

From the Paper
"Senior citizens -- seniors hereafter -- are generally considered those aged sixty-five and older in the U S population. According to Day, this demographic has grown twice as fast as the rest of the population over the past two decades..."

Tags:AARP, Medicare, Congress, protest, activism, public administration, Pennsylvania, prescription drugs, lobbyists, legislators, law