BRG Legal, LLC

04/23/2026

U.S. systems are designed for and still operate based on life expectancy projections from the 1950s. Today people are living 30 years longer, into our 80s, 90s and 100s, and we're not prepared for our new longevity. This opinion piece in Fortune draws on the Milken Institute's report Longevity Ready: A Systems Approach to Aging Well at Home, the Longevity Preparedness Index from John Hancock and MIT AgeLab, as well as findings from the Manulife John Hancock Financial Resilience and Longevity Report to define the important steps individuals, communities, corporations and policy makers need to take to address this 30-year gap and ensure we can all age well at home. https://bit.ly/4vAaMzZ

04/16/2026

Ok, who can relate?

I had back to back consults today and addressed this exact issue. Please have the uncomfortable talk! You or honest information are not the burdens. The burden is the chaotic crisis that results when the conversations are not had soon enough!

Even a therapist who specializes in family dynamics day in and day out struggles to understand one peculiar habit that seems to be nearly universal among those in the 60 and above age bracket.

Mary Beth Somich, LCMHC, who has been a family therapist for 10 years, recently posted a TikTok that struck a nerve. The caption reads, "Help me understand this Boomer parenting behavior."

"There is this thing that Boomer parents consistently do that I have to admit, I truly do not understand. I would really like to understand this, as I think it would really help my Gen X and Millennial adult clients."

In her experience, Somich says, older adults tend to withhold important medical information from their adult children, sometimes until way after the fact. It often comes wrapped in a cushioning phrase like, "We just didn't want to worry you."

In the video, she acts out a few scenarios that are all too familiar to many adults with Boomer parents: Mom springing it on you out of the blue that Dad had "open heart surgery yesterday." Or one of your parents suddenly disclosing that "Grandma has been on life support for a week."

"These are adult children now. These are adults." She says her adult clients come into her practice after moments like this feeling upset, sad, and even betrayed. In short, they're far more upset than they would have been hearing the hard news sooner.

"If the idea here was to spare your adult child some anxiety, it has backfired," she says. But the question still remains: Why do they do it?

The video racked up over a million views on social media, and viewers had no shortage of things to say about this frustrating phenomenon.

Theories abound as to why Boomers tend to withhold health-related updates. Some called out the behavior as manipulative or selfish:

"They don't want to deal with our emotions. Surely you know that"

"Emotional immaturity is likely a part of it - avoiding having to acknowledge their own distress about it and also avoiding experiencing their kids’ distress. Sweep it under the rug until you can’t not trip over it."

"They will give you every health update of the neighbor down the street that you don’t even know but won’t tell you when they have cancer. Then they make you feel bad that you didn’t know because you don’t come around enough."

"It’s a form of punishment and control. 'If we cared, we would have asked.'"

Several people theorized that it's hard for parents of any age to think of their own kids as adults, so the urge to protect and shield them is tough to break even once they're truly grown. Others were more empathetic, recalling that Boomers weren't exactly raised with a lot of tender affection and care in the '50s and '60s.

"Boomers had f-ed up parents and so were their parents. Etc. There was no counseling, no mental health talk. It was non existent. OUR feelings were dismissed and communication skills were not taught to us. we were taught to brush everything under the rug and I think all of this is reflection of how we react to things now."

"Late Boomer here (Gen Jones). Our parents kept everything from us. No talking about money, relationships, or coping skills. We never learned how to relate to our adult children unless we taught ourselves."

Parents in the '60s and thereabouts were heavy on authority and much lighter on warmth than parents today. The phrase, "Children should be seen and not heard," was a common refrain of the day, so it's no wonder they might have trouble opening up and communicating.

Experts say the truth is really a bit of both: A genuine (if misguided desire) to protect or not "burden" adult children, mixed with difficulties in being vulnerable as a result of their upbringing. See what licensed clinical psychologists have to say below.

04/09/2026

What makes you, “you”? What do you do each day that makes you who you are? What’s important to you, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, that moves you, motivates you, touches your soul, makes you feel most connected with who you are and, without which, would somehow render you less “you”?

That’s my favorite question to ask clients as we’re working through their estate planning documents.

We do things daily which makes us who we are, somehow shapes the space we take up in this world and, without which we wouldn’t be the same. Yet, how often do we really think about all those things in our daily life we take for granted?

For me, it’s music! Music and the love of it is just integral to my very being. I inherited a love of music from both my parents, grew up on concerts, musicals, and symphony performances and, for a brief stint in my childhood, tried to be a musician. I wake up to music, shower and get ready for my day with music, journal and contemplate life with music, work, drive, cook…Every. Thing. With. Music! I can listen to specific music and be transported back in memory to certain friends, events, or feelings. Music is just woven into the fiber of who I am and, if for whatever reason, I am unable to press play and stroll through my life in music, someone who loves me better step up and hit shuffle like their life depends on it. Because mine will.

So, what makes you, You? What important things do your loved ones need to know, not about where to find the deed to the house or the bank password (yes, still important!) but about what makes you whole and is important to who you want to be, regardless of your situation? For one client, it was sitting/looking outside at dusk with their gin and tonic, another wanted their evening gummies, one client hadn’t taken off a necklace since receiving it in childhood and never wanted to be without it, one gentleman just wanted to make sure his false teeth were in! Needing to depend on the help of others as we age should not diminish our dignity and agency. Those things that make us who we are shouldn’t be any less important as we get older (the opposite!!), just because we might need someone’s assistance to make sure they still happen. We just need to spend the time, now, sorting out what those important elements are and make sure our friends and family know what they are and what they mean to us!

These are the important questions I want to help you uncover and communicate to your loved ones, just in case you can’t one day. Reach out if you’d like some help with the conversation.
Until then, I'll be here working and listening to today's playlist...

03/12/2026

My PSA for the day: If you are over the age of 18, you need estate planning documents!

Other than becoming an adult and responsible for your own decisions, there is no "magic number" after which you "probably should consider getting some estate planning documents in place". Life just isn't that consistent or predictable.

BRG Legal had the pleasure of an invite to table at the York School District wellness day yesterday for all the teachers and staff of our wonderful schools. I had several conversations with people that, yes, you are in fact "old enough" to need your estate planning in order.

My mission will forever be to get people to plan EARLY, before a CRISIS sidelines well-reasoned consideration, good intentions and calm, honest conversation.

My 'inspirational words' for 2026 are "authentic" and "uncensored". I've got a lot happening behind the scenes right now and cannot wait to share everything with you soon. Just know, I'm coming in authentic and uncensored this year...you've been warned!

Now, do yourself a favor and start mapping out those planning document decisions! Have the conversations! Ponder the options. Plan for the inevitable, however far off you hope it to be, so you can move on to the next item on your to-do list and won't have uncertainty hanging over your head.

02/02/2026

I am honored to have been invited to serve on a legal panel at this year's Community Wellness Fair, Thursday, February 12th. Please register and come visit with community while hopefully learning a useful thing or two.

Join us for the 6th annual Black History Month Community Wellness Fair this February 11 and 12. This year's forum is centered on aging and addressing legal, financial, and health challenges while uplifting resilience and connections. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-black-history-month-community-wellness-fair-tickets-1980130449478

The Community Wellness Fair is sponsored by Cross Cultural Community Services alongside many community partners including United Way of Southern Maine.

12/25/2025

The Garon Roast Beast is in the oven, the kids have gone off to do whatever and the wrapping scattered about has been recycled. I’m taking a mini break in front of the fire and wanted to say Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is enjoying today the absolute best that you can!

09/29/2025

So excited to be joining the Board of Maine Council on Aging to do what I can to make Maine the best state for aging gracefully, with self-determination and state-wide support!

Please join us in welcoming Britton Ryan Garon and Catharine MacLaren to the MCOA Board of Directors. Britton is an attorney and founder of BRG Legal, LLC and Catharine is VP, Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development at Northern Light Health. Both bring a wealth of expertise and passion for creating an age-positive culture in Maine. We’re glad to have you on the MCOA team!

09/05/2025

I happened to catch this getting ready this morning. I was sucked in and cried right along with them. I don't know much about Sheinelle Jones but listening to her speak about the love and peace she and her husband shared as he was dying of cancer, was beautiful and inspiring. I wish for more of us the ability to find such beauty and love in otherwise nightmarish situations.

08/12/2025

This is what my self-care Sunday looked like yesterday. It was the 18th anniversary of my mom’s death and it started a little rough. How its been 18 years when it feels like yesterday in so many ways, I’ll never understand. But, then again, I have a 15 year old who started driver’s ed today…
She asked me to not remember her death date and agonize over it each year but it’s hard not to replay a day so vivid in memory and look back on the day I last heard her voice. As I worked to pull myself out of my grief, I was extremely comforted by this realization - Roni brought me into this world and gave me life almost 50 years ago. In her death, she gave me MY life 18 years ago. As much as I would give to have her back, even just for the chance to meet and hug her grandchildren, I can’t imagine what my life would look like without the effects of her death. My husband. My kids. My willingness to leave a city I still cherish for a quiet, calmer life in the country. My house. My birds. My work.
I am not sure what, if any of those, would have happened had life not played out as it did. I do know that I wouldn’t be doing the work I do if it wasn’t for what I went through 18 years ago at her end of life.
My practice isn’t a job. It is the continued gift of life from my mother. My purpose.
It is truly an honor to be a part of my clients’ lives and to provide comfort and support during stressful and life altering times. Because I remember how awful it can all feel. Like it was yesterday.

06/06/2025

Congratulations are going out to all the York High School graduates today and hugs to all the emotional parents!

At 18, our children are adults, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. Before you send them off on their next chapter, please address their legal needs. If something happens, parents need legal authority to act on behalf of their child, make medical decisions, or access important information. A Power of Attorney and Advance Health Care Directive are documents that, if completed ahead of time, can alleviate additional stress and unnecessary expense of time and money if a crisis or emergency occurs.

Reach out if you'd like more information or to schedule an appointment.
207-351-8414

05/11/2025

Happy Mother’s Day to all you awesome women out there! In whatever role you serve, however you are referred, just believe the goodness in yourself that you project towards those who love you, will serve only to make them better human beings. At least, that’s what I tell myself each morning! 🤪 I hope peace and love come to all who are open to it today, especially those of us trying to celebrate the day, while not quite feeling whole without that someone special.
A special Happy Mother’s Day to Roni And Beenie today! ❤️