AARP not much help in realm of senior health

Q: Will I get health benefits by joining AARP?

A: I joined AARP long ago. I was impressed with its mission statement, which said that the organization was dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age. It claimed to lead positive social change and deliver value to members through information, advocacy and service, listed in that order.

As physicians, we are aware that the elderly are considered a vulnerable group. They have fixed incomes that are often inadequate, chronic medical problems (physical and mental), declining cognitive function and social situations that make them susceptible to all sorts of scams. They are often the targets of “snake-oil” salesmen. We are all aware that AARP is a lobby and a special-interest group for the elderly — an organization that is supposed to look out for its members’ interests.

AARP has more than 40 million members, most of whom I suspect are true believers in its mission. Certainly, the health of its elderly members must be an important aspect of its mission and should be one of its priorities. The AARP magazine has one of the largest circulations of any magazine in the U.S.; this magazine and the AARP website provides health information to its readers. The size, scope and prestige of the AARP would appear to suggest to the often scientifically uninformed elderly, deeply concerned about their health, that the organization would provide them with the best, most reliable health information. Sadly, AARP fails their elderly members in this regard.

The AARP magazine often contains articles that suggest to their members a value to alternative medicine practices that such practices have not merited. These practices or therapies are unproven in rigid scientific studies or have not been duplicated or confirmed by other highly qualified researchers. These same practices may have, at times, shown some effectiveness in rats (non-human studies); can distract patients from effective, proven therapies; and waste their members' often limited financial resources. Such AARP magazine articles or website entries tread softly on the ultimate hoax — homeopathy; support ridiculous claims for foods and supplements that relieve pain; give the impression that acupuncture is more than just a placebo; support unlikely value for herbal remedies for boosting memory, arthritis, etc. Recently, the European Union banned hundreds of herbal remedies in an effort to protect consumers from potentially damaging “traditional” medicines.

Even more disturbing is the platform that the AARP magazine has given to Dr. Mehmet Oz. Oz is a popular, good-looking, likable cardiac surgeon from a respected medical institution. On occasion, he writes good articles dealing with health maintenance and disease prevention. However, to the scientific and academic medical community, his shows and many of his writings, promote pseudoscience and what many have called quackery. His shows feature individuals who practice highly dubious practices, faith healers and even psychic scammer John Edward, who claims that he can speak with departed loved ones — just what AARP members need. Oz’s embrace of unusual products for health and anti-aging benefits are usually premature and best reserved for mice studies. Neither he nor his products will usually benefit AARP members.

One has to wonder whether AARP has lost its focus. Recently, Congress accused AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status. It has become a big business (more than $1.4 billion in revenue in 2009), actively recruiting members even at age 50, which most people wouldn’t categorize as elderly. Its CEO's executive compensation package is $1.6 million and it supports payouts of $14 million, over the next three years, to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.

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