Abstract
This chapter discusses AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons), the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to tackling common challenges of aging individuals. As the number of individuals over the age of 65 steadily increases, the demand for more resources and services compatible with aging adults increases as well. Issues including health, hunger, income, housing, and social isolation are all barriers older adults may face. Within the contents of this chapter lie the efforts of AARP, the AARP Foundation, and their affiliates used to knock down these barriers and improve the quality of life for aging adults. The AARP Foundation is one of the four nonprofit charitable affiliates of AARP, specifically focusing to provide the basic standards of living for those older adults in need. Additional services and initiatives provided by AARP are legal aid, employment resources, and Disrupt Aging, a book helping older adults understand the aging process. Many other nonprofit organizations and their specific focuses in helping aging individuals are discussed, including the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Geriatric Society, and more. While there are many organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life of aging individuals, there will continue to be new challenges that arise.
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Brindle, A., Gatchel, R.J. (2018). What Is AARP and Other Nonprofit Organizations that Can Help Older Adults. In: Gatchel, R., Schultz, I., Ray, C. (eds) Handbook of Rehabilitation in Older Adults. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03916-5_29
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