On April 1, 2026, America launched Artemis II, a human equipped spaceship, into its spectacular voyage to the far corners of the moon. On the same day I grabbed my latest edition of a book, “Microsoft Office 365 All-In-One For Dummies (2nd edition)” while leaving the office. While the events appear to have nothing in common, any diehard journalist should be able to sense the connection — new technology, outstanding results. Except that, from my perspective, and for many of us average work-a-day people the immediate results may not seem to be that outstanding — at least for now.
Just imagine, we still have people who read books, things made of paper, to learn, among other things, how to launch ourselves into a world of learning that discards books almost altogether. And there is so much diversity in learning, experience and resources that it is difficult to determine what the final outcome might be.
But this is not the only story. Another is that we are living in a transitional world. The question is how we deal with it and do we include everyone without leaving many others here behind on earth watching the spaceship depart. Are we “coming together” as the song said or splitting apart. The answer to this question is and will be critical both for us individually and as a society. Can differences be tolerated, accepted and celebrated in backgrounds, experience, language, age, capacities and learning? I am an elder law attorney after all.
These observations to a large extent could also be asked in a case argued before the United States Supreme Court the same day, Wednesday, April 1, on citizenship. Can we help an entire nation recognize, accept, appreciate and understand the value in differences in background, learning, experiences and communicating. We need to survive and to do it together. The song says “Come Together Right Now.”
A few years ago I attended a conference in Chicago sponsored by the National Elder Law Foundation to which I belong. During a breakout session on technology I asked the speaker how to handle our legal practices when so many of our clients come from different levels of proficiency when it involves communication. There are simple things accentuated by diversity. We may come from different backgrounds and cultures. For technology, one person wants to communicate by phone, another by text, another by personal meeting. Some choose meetings by zoom. Some by conference call. There are client portals for direct communication. There are different software programs. Are you Apple or Android? Is your Microsoft program compatible?
These questions have become more complicated as there are changes in healthcare, tax laws, Medicare, Medicaid and others. Do you choose basic Medicare with a Supplement or Medicare Advantage or must you follow a plan designated by your employer? Do you want a Trust or a Will? Should you purchase long-term care insurance? If your beneficiary is disabled how can you protect him or her if you die first? Do you move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community and, if so, which one?
The plans I develop for a wealthy person with multiple properties, some of them in other states and diverse assets are obviously different from ones where there is less.
Disabilities can complicate things. Individuals may not be able to see or hear well or move about but otherwise be able to communicate very well. Dementia can change well-made plans.
The speaker’s answer at that conference regarding technology was that we need different plans for different clients and different situations. I would add that we can be flexible to a point but sometimes need to refer certain situations out to others who deal with those issues on a regular basis.
Returning to my original discussion — the book “Microsoft Office 365 All-In-One for Dummies” — I would note contains 932 pages — this is not some light weekend reading. We have to continue learning and growing to stay in the game. I do have a number of clients, some of them retired from very professional positions, who advise they retired because they did not want to have to work with the complexity and change. It is understandable.
This and disruptions caused by COVID meant not only did we need to adapt to new challenges but also meet new people in new positions learning new jobs. Working together is needed to help us take off and get us through now more than ever!
Janet Colliton, Esq. is a Certified Elder Law Attorney recognized by the American Bar Assn and Pa. Supreme Court and limits her practice to elder law, estate planning and administration, retirement planning, Medicaid and special needs, with offices at 790 East Market St., Suite 250, West Chester, 610-436-6674. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and, with Jeffrey Jones, CSAequipped, co-founder of Life Transition Services LLC, a service for families with long term care needs.