Lessons in Elder Law from “Baba O’Riley”

If you grew up listening to classic rock, chances are “Baba O’Riley” still hits deep. It is my favorite song from my favorite artist – the Who. Recently, a cover by Pearl Jam came across my playlist while on a long drive. The lyrics are so engrained in my memory that I realized I don’t really “listen” to them anymore. It’s been years since I really digested the words. As I listened, it struck me that while Baba O’Riley is the same song I first heard in junior high, today, I’m a different person.

Most people, myself included, hear it as a teenage anthem — but as I listened more closely, I found something more powerful: a message of survival, endurance, and the refusal to be forgotten. It’s not just a story about youth. It’s a story about aging.

As elder care advocates, our team helps seniors and their families navigate the complex, often overwhelming world of long-term care, healthcare planning, and asset protection. The arc of this song speaks directly to the struggles many older adults face — and to the advocacy work we’re proud of each day.

Elder Law, Advocacy, and Fighting for What Matters

“I fight for my meals, I get my back into my living, I don’t need to fight to prove I’m right, I don’t need to be forgiven…”

Our parents, grandparents, siblings, and we, ourselves, spend lifetimes working hard — raising families, building businesses, and serving our country. Now, in later years, we face a new kind of battle: how to age fearlessly and shamelessly.

These challenges extend far beyond financial; they’re emotional, mental, and spiritual. Aging is about dignity, independence, and quality of life. As elder care advocates, we’re guides, sherpas, and partners in the foxhole – fighting alongside families to ensure their loved ones aren’t lost in the system.

“Teenage Wasteland” — or a Senior Wasteland?

“Don’t cry / Don’t raise your eye / It’s only teenage wasteland…”

Only after I read more about the Who and Pete Townshend did I realize he wasn’t glorifying wasted youth — he was lamenting it, calling attention to the danger of squandering untapped potential. Today, that message resonates in a different context: the way society sometimes treats older adults as expendable, valueless, something to be “handled” or “dealt with.”

When families come to us, they’re overwhelmed by the long-term care system. Between the rising cost of nursing homes, confusing public benefits rules, and limited support options, it can feel like seniors are left behind. It’s not a teenage wasteland. It’s a societal one — that we’re working to change.

Long-Term Care Planning: A Journey Worth Taking

“Sally, take my hand / We’ll travel south ‘cross land, put out the fire, and don’t look past my shoulder. The exodus is here, the happy ones are near, let’s get together before we get much older”.

Our care team leads families through crisis to the other side, shoulder to shoulder. Many of those we help are planning for the end of their own lives or that of their loved ones. With their loved ones by their side, they face this journey with resolve.

Helping a loved one age with dignity is a journey that can often seem quixotic — one that shouldn’t be taken alone and seems impossible. Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to a crisis, having a knowledgeable team by your side can make all the difference.

We help guide you toward peace of mind every step of the way.

“Let’s get together / before we get much older…”

This lyric is a perfect call to action. Aging is inevitable — but Its challenges are known and understood. Planning ahead protects not only your loved ones’ care, but your family’s financial future and peace of mind.

If you’re worried about the future of a parent, spouse, or yourself, you’re not alone and don’t have to navigate it alone, either. The elder care law attorneys and advocates at Rothkoff Law Group provide trusted, compassionate legal guidance for families facing long-term care decisions. Contact us here to get started.