Contribution and Roles of Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) to Public Health, Safety, and Community Quality of Life

Introduction

The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) was founded in early 2001. ARA is a non-
profit and nonpartisan institution that allows retirees from trade unions associated with the AFL-
CIO to be enrolled. ARA membership involves individuals from non-unions and community
activists. ARA advocates and fights for the rights and freedoms of retirees within the US
(“Alliance for Retired Americans,” 2024). The organization has a robust and efficient support
program for retirees. It advocates policies, develops public education for members, and develops
grassroots activism. ARA serves crucial roles in developing communal health and care,
promoting equality among members, and improving the quality of life among retirees. The report
focuses on the contribution and role played by the ARA organization to retirees, how it attains its
goals, and determines its effectiveness, including the impact of factors affecting its operations.
How ARA’s Mission and Vision Enable it to Contribute to Public Safety and Health

Improvements

The Alliance for Retired Americans’ goal is to represent the rights, freedoms, and well-
being of American retirees. Advocating for these rights develops safety standards in the
community and improves access to public health. ARA focuses on improving access to health
resources, developing safety standards, and advocating policies. ARA’s mission is “to ensure
social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy lives of
dignity, personal and family fulfillment and security” (“Alliance for Retired Americans,” 2024).
Its mission is “to protect and expand retirement security for all Americans.”

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There are several ways in which ARA’s mission and vision statements contribute to
public safety and health improvements. One way is through advancing access to quality
healthcare services. ARA develops policies to protect retirees by granting them unrestricted
access to quality healthcare (“Alliance for Retired Americans,” 2024). ARA’s advocacy efforts
allow the organization to preserve and develop quality healthcare benefits for retirees, allowing
American retirees access to quality Medicare using low financial resources.
The second way is by promoting the security and safety of retirees. ARA manages safety
standards among retirees by offering them elderly care and protecting them from fraud.
Additionally, it offers support and resources that protect retirees from financial distortion and
social abuse. Finally, ARA contributes to safety and health improvements by advocating
healthcare policies. The organization has been at the forefront of lobbying for legislation and
policies that govern and protect retirees’ safety and health standards. For instance, ARA has
developed and allowed retirees to benefit from policies that develop quality nursing homes and
formulate other retirement security.

Promotion of Equal Opportunity and access to Quality Life
Besides contributing to public health and safety, ARA promotes access to equal
opportunities and improves retirees’ access to quality life by managing and developing cultural
and socio-economic practices and eliminating physical barriers to affordable care. One way ARA
promotes equal opportunity is by championing equity. The agency fights for equity policies that
protect the discrimination of retirees and develop equal access to basic needs. It entails efforts to
remove disparities in Medicare and post-job benefits to individuals from various demographic
groups. According to Pak (2020), promoting equal opportunity and social protection improves
happiness and financial satisfaction among retirees.

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Moreover, ARA promotes equal opportunity and a higher quality of life by advocating
for economic security among American retirees. The organization fights for the development and
improvement of economic security among retirees, for example, by advocating for social-
security merits like good pension schemes and protecting retirees (“Alliance for Retired
Americans”, 2024). Managing socio-economic issues facing retirees allows ARA to develop
access to quality life. Finally, the Alliance for Retired Americans enhances engagement in the
community and provides opportunities to retirees, improving interaction with advocacy efforts
and developing a sense of belonging among retirees. However, it is paramount to acknowledge
that specific social, cultural, economic, and physical barriers can hinder equal access to quality
life and opportunity.

Impact of Funding Sources, Policy, and Legislation

ARA’s efforts in offering services among retirees are backed by a wide pool of funding
and supportive policies and legislation, improving the effectiveness of services rendered. ARA
generates its main income through membership subscriptions, donations from other NGOs, and
grants from the federal government to manage its operations. Funding plays a critical role in
continual advocacy for retirees’ well-being (Fulmer et al., 2021). Limited funding can negatively
affect its goals and objectives.
It is also imperative to note that changes in legislation and policies can impact ARA’s
success and mission. Ideally, policies provide the structural foundation and framework that
guides, among others, the organization’s practices and decision-making regarding administration,
funding, resource allocation, and the amount remunerated to beneficiaries (Scott et al., 2020).
For example, changes in health care policies and social security legislation can affect retirees’
health security. The organization’s advocacy impacts policies that favor retirees. Finally, ARA’s

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potential to effect changes impacts legislation. Good advocacy can improve benefits for retirees
and protect them from unfavorable policies.

Impact of ARA on Local Community and Involvement in Nursing
The efforts of ARA positively advocate for local communities through the development
of quality health standards and safety among retirees. Its support and legislation allow the
governance to develop and offer better healthcare among retirees in society. Nurses may engage
in ARA by participating in community education programs, advocating for better healthcare, and
supporting the community’s well-being.

Conclusion

The ARA develops the well-being of retirees through advocacy for better public
healthcare and improvement of safety standards. It also develops equal access to opportunities,
reducing discrimination and exploitation of retirees’ benefits. ARA’s advocacy, policies, and
communal engagement manage challenges and issues that retirees experience, thus striving for
an equitable and supportive society. Funding plays a crucial role in helping ARA attain its goals
and mission. Legislation advocacy and effective policy enforcement can improve operations,
contributing advocacy and support to protect retirees.

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References

Alliance for Retired Americans. (2024, July 12). Retired Americans
 https://www.retiredamericans.org
Alliance for Retired Americans. (n.d.). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
CMS. https://www.cms.gov/contacts/alliance-retired-americans/general-professional-
contact/1559646
Fulmer, T., Reuben, D. B., Auerbach, J., Fick, D. M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, K. S. (2021).
Actualizing better health and health care for older adults. Health Affairs, 40(2), 219-225.
https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01470
Pak, T. (2020). Social protection for happiness? The impact of social pension reform on the
subjective well-being of the Korean elderly. Journal of Policy Modeling, 42(2), 349-366.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2019.12.001
Scott, S. M., & Scott, P. A. (2020). Nursing, advocacy, and public policy. Nursing Ethics, 28(5),
723-733. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733020961823