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People have the right to be free from all abuse. This includes both physical and emotional abuse. They also have a right to live free from discrimination and from crime.

AARP’s policies on personal and legal rights are guided by these six principles:

Intergenerational cooperation and collaboration can improve the lives of older and younger Americans. The growing number of older people is a rich bank of human capital.

Policymakers should support and encourage intergenerational cooperation.

Policymakers should provide protections for grandparents who are helping to raise grandchildren.

Fraud is a serious crime, and older adults are often targeted. In 2017 over half of fraud complaints came from adults age 50 and older.

The federal government should provide greater assistance to state and local agencies for crime prevention and deterrence.

Policymakers should develop and fund programs to make communities safer for residents living in a variety of settings.

Older adults have unique health and social needs. Many are on fixed incomes. Often, older adults depend on government benefits and services that have complex requirements.

Policymakers should expand access to free or reduced-cost legal services for older adults with low and moderate incomes.