Aging

September 27, 2026

Two GUARD ACTS: Protecting the Young and the Old in an Age of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Fraud

Abstract

Two different pieces of pending federal legislation share the acronym GUARD Act, but they address technological risks at opposite ends of the age spectrum. The Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2026 (S. 3062) would seek to protect minors from potentially harmful interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots and companions through age verification, access restrictions, disclosures, and other safeguards. The separate Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act (H.R. 2978/S. 2544) would strengthen law enforcement capabilities to investigate increasingly sophisticated financial fraud affecting older Americans, including schemes involving artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. Neither proposal has yet been enacted into federal law. Examining the two measures together highlights both their potential benefits and their possible unintended consequences, including questions involving privacy, cybersecurity, parental authority, access to beneficial AI technologies, digital inclusion, and civil liberties. Their contrasting approaches also raise a broader question likely to become increasingly important as artificial intelligence permeates everyday life: How can society protect people who may be particularly vulnerable to emerging technologies without unnecessarily limiting their ability to benefit from those same technologies?

Introduction

August 5, 2026

A New Proposal Would Increase Social Security COLAs: What Retirees Should Know

by David Badertscher

Introduction

For more than 70 million Americans, Social Security provides an essential source of retirement, disability, and survivor income. One of the program’s most important features is the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), which is intended to help benefits keep pace with inflation.

A recently introduced proposal in Congress the Social Security 2100 Act would make a significant change to the way future COLAs are calculated. According to a recent overview published by FinanceBuzz, the legislation would replace the current inflation index used for Social Security with one that many advocates believe more accurately reflects the spending patterns of older Americans. If enacted, retirees could receive modestly larger annual benefit increases over time.

June 18, 2026

Estate Planning in New Jersey: A Discussion Guide

by David Badertscher

Updated. July 22, 2026

Introduction

This discussion guide provides a practical, non-technical introduction to estate planning in New Jersey, including wills, probate, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, trusts, and digital estate planning. Developed from a discussion I recently moderated, the guide is designed to encourage informed conversation and thoughtful planning rather than provide legal advice. Whether you are just beginning to think about estate planning or reviewing an existing plan, this overview offers useful questions, key concepts, and resources to help you better understand the issues involved and identify topics that may warrant professional guidance. Estate planning remains one of the most important gifts we can leave to those we care about. Estate planning is the process of deciding how your property, finances, healthcare decisions, and personal wishes will be handled during your lifetime and after your death. It is not just for wealthy individuals. Anyone who owns property, has savings, maintains retirement accounts, or wishes to provide guidance to family members can benefit from having an estate plan.

April 2, 2026

Fostering Stability in Aging Iniative

by David Badertscher

The “Fostering Stability in Aging” initiative, led by the ABA Commission on Law and Aging and the Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, is a specialized resource hub and advocacy effort. It aims to prevent homelessness and poverty among older adults by supporting legal professionals with research and tools to enhance access to housing, healthcare, and services….Across the country, older adults are the fastest-growing population facing housing instability and homelessness. Rising housing costs, fixed incomes, health challenges, caregiving burdens and increasing vulnerability to fraud are converging to create a crisis that is both urgent and, too often, unseen.

The American Bar Association Senior Lawyers Division (SLD), in partnership with the ABA Commission on Law and Aging and the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, is stepping forward with a coordinated, national response:

The Fostering Stability in Aging Initiative is designed to mobilize the legal profession—particularly experienced lawyers – to deliver practical, measurable solutions. It will: