NASHVILLE (AP) - The AARP announced Monday a series of town hall meetings and forums across the state to get Tennesseans' input on the future of Medicare and Social Security.

Members of AARP Tennessee said at a press conference that they're launching a so-called "listening tour" in Johnson City, Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson on April 4, and in Memphis on April 5.

On May 17, there's an opportunity for concerned Tennesseans to be part of a live studio audience in Nashville on the national RFD-TV show "AARP Live."

According to AARP, a new survey finds that most Americans believe lawmakers in Washington are making too many decisions about Medicare and Social Security behind closed doors and not listening to the public.

AARP Tennessee State Director Rebecca Kelly said the meetings will allow everyday people who invest in Medicare and Social Security to "join the conversation because your health and retirement security are at stake ."

"We are here today to launch a listening tour, because we want to hear from Tennesseans," Kelly said. "We want to know what you think can be done to strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare, for your grandchildren and their grandchildren."

Currently in Tennessee, more than 1 million people rely on Medicare and 1.2 million receive Social Security checks.

According to the survey, about 78 percent of the 1,027 who were polled said Washington is trying to make too many decisions behind closed doors when it comes to Medicare and Social Security. Ninety-five percent said more time should be spent listening to ordinary citizens.

"You have earned a right to be heard," Kelly said.

Bob Paredes, who heads the AARP chapter in Murfreesboro, said a cousin who developed emphysema and had a double lung transplant might have died without Medicare coverage.

"We have paid into Medicare throughout our professional lives," he said. "Why should we let Washington decide what Medicare is going to look like?"

AARP volunteer leader Bettye Jo Wells of Chattanooga said the Social Security benefits her family received after her father's death were vital.

"Without those benefits, I doubt if my mom would have been able to survive, provide us with a home and pay for our incidental expenses at school on her income as a domestic employee."

AARP officials said the information they receive from the listening tour will be presented to lawmakers.

"It's going to be some powerful information and the politicians are not going to be able to just blow it off because these are the people that put them in office," Paredes said.