AAGP was founded in 1978 to foster the specialty of geriatric psychiatry and promote the delivery of quality mental health care to the aging population. A 16-member Board of Directors that is elected by the general membership governs the AAGP. In addition, nine Committees provide input to the AAGP Board of Directors on substantive issues. Task Forces are appointed by the AAGP Board to accomplish time limited projects.

AAGP's national headquarters office is located in Bethesda, Maryland – near the National Institutes of Health and not far from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The core programs of the Association include: Education and Professional Development, Late Life Mental Health Research, and Clinical Practice which are carried out through a variety of strategies including: governmental affairs and advocacy, communications, educational programming, and liaison activities. Each of these program is critical to the strategic future of the association and integral to the overall goals set forth by the AAGP Board of Directors.