Our Ownership
Not Pictured Here: Christina Kontaxis, PHR, SHRM-CP
Since 1993
Susy Elder Murphy, BA, CMC
Managing Director
Principal
Susy Elder Murphy, BA, CMC, joined Aging Well Eldercare (formerly Debra Levy Eldercare Associates) in 1993, and helped build the practice in her long-time role as Director of Care Management. She assumed day-to-day responsibilities for running the business in the summer of 2012 and full ownership of the practice on June 1, 2013.
Susy is a Certified Care Manager, accredited by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers. She is also a member of the Aging Life Care™ Association and served as an at-large Board Member of their Mid-Atlantic Chapter from 2013 – 2015 and as President in 2016 and 2017. Currently, she serves as a member of the National Board of Directors of the Aging Life Care Association. She also served as co-chair for their regional conference in 2014. Susy is also a member of the American Geriatric Society and co-chair of programming for the metro Washington, DC chapter. She is an active member of the boards of various organizations serving the needs of local seniors, including a hospice.
Susy’s first job working with older adults was as the Nutrition Director for a federally funded nutrition program in Hailey, Idaho. She was also the founding coordinator of JCA’s Connect-A-Ride program and a volunteer coordinator for the Family Friends program.
She attended Oberlin College and graduated with Honors from the University of Michigan. In addition to working with our clients, she enjoys baking for her family and exploring different cuisines and cultures with her husband and two adult children and their spouses. She recently became a grandmother for the first time and enjoys spending time with her precious granddaughter.
Since 2003
Kim Picca, RN, BSN, CMC, CDP
Director of Nursing
Principal
Kimberly Picca, RN, BSN, CMC, CDP, graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Maryland School of Nursing. While earning her first bachelor’s degree in horticultural therapy from Texas A&M, she discovered how much she enjoyed older adults. Having initiated a garden club at a local retirement community, she realized that she and her fellow students gained more from the intergenerational project than the residents themselves. Kim worked with adults with developmental disabilities, and as a hospital Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and admissions nurse prior to joining Aging Well Eldercare in 2002. Kim enjoyed employing a holistic approach to her client’s needs as a nurse care manager and moved into a leadership role as Director of Nursing in the Spring of 2013. Kim became a Care Manager Certified via examination certification from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers in the Fall of 2024. One of the most rewarding aspects of her role is “working closely with our care managers to provide our clients with comprehensive, individualized approaches to promoting their health and well being.” In addition, Kim enjoys speaking with families as part of our intake process and learning the nuances of each person’s situation to best match them with one of our care managers. Kim has two teenaged sons and a very cute rescue chihuahua that keeps her moving. She also loves traveling, hiking, reading, listening to music, exercising and eating well.
Since 2013
Teresa Boring, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW, C-ASWCM
Director of Care Management
Principal
Teresa Boring, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW, C-ASWCM, earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a specialization in Aging through the “Internships in Aging Program” from the State University of New York (SUNY) Albany. The Internships in Aging Project, which is part of the national Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education, allowed her to participate in internships, seminars, and coursework pertaining to the aging population and people with disabilities. Before starting with Aging Well Eldercare, she worked as a caregiver for aging adults, an instructor for children with disabilities, and ran support groups for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. As a part of the Aging Well Eldercare team, she has provided integral support to clients with complex aging-related illnesses, mental health challenges, intellectual and acquired disabilities, and complicated family dynamics, among others. Teresa has played pivotal roles at Aging Well Eldercare including client care, staff supervision, helping create the Debbie’s Angels Concierge Companion program in 2013, and more. In her free time she enjoys a good TV show, movies, anything Taylor Swift, and spending time with friends, family, and her cats Duke and Lila.
Since 2021
Christina Kontaxis, PHR, SHRM-CP
Director of HR & Finance
Principal
Christina Kontaxis, PHR, SHRM-CP, has over a decade of experience in the senior living industry. Prior to joining Aging Well Eldercare team, she supported the pre-opening operations of a continuing care retirement community that opened in 2017 by serving as Business Office Director. She also worked as a Resident Care Coordinator for another senior community, providing oversight of all direct care staff in the assisted living neighborhood. Christina was an active volunteer with Therapy Dogs International for five years and made hundreds of visits to older adults in the community, as well as regularly participated in the “Read to a Dog” program at a local library. Christina and her husband are kept on their toes by their toddler and two energetic Labradors. She holds degrees in Gerontology & Aging Services and Human Resource Management from University of Maryland. She enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, and taking her dogs on nature trails or to the beach.
Debra Levy
Our Founder
Debra Levy, (1953-2012) dedicated over 30 years serving the elderly and disabled in home health care, adult day care, nursing home and hospital settings. She founded Debra Levy Eldercare Associates in 1988 and was one of the area’s longest practicing Professional Geriatric Care Managers.
Debra started DLEA as a solo practitioner working out of her home office while raising her young family. She built her business, practice and referral sources one client at a time. She joined “head and heart” to combine expert knowledge with caring and compassion for older adults while building a warm, competent staff and supportive work environment.
She received her BA in Psychology (Magna Cum Laude), a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Certificate in Aging, all from the University of Maryland. She was certified by the National Academy of Geriatric Care Managers. She served for many years on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. In 2011, Debra was awarded the Adele Elkind Award, a distinguished award given to one member each year for extraordinary contributions of service and commitment to the profession of geriatric care management and the NAPGCM. Debra was appointed to the Professional Advisory Board of the University of Maryland School of Social Work and served on the Professional Advisory Council of the Jewish Hospice.
Her mission to provide families and seniors the best in caring, individualized and effective support as they face the challenges of aging will continue through the work of the dedicated Debra Levy Eldercare leadership and staff. Our Debbie’s Angels program was named in her memory and honors her desire for the best quality of life possible for clients. Our Angels carry on her passionate work of love and service to the community by improving the lives of older adults and people with disabilities through social engagement and companionship.
Key to Staff Credentials
- BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- C-ASWCM – Advanced Social Work Case Manager
- CCM - Certified Case Manager
- CDP – Certified Dementia Practitioner
- CMC – Care Manager Certified
- JD – Juris Doctor
- LCSW-C – Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (in MD)
- LICSW – Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (in DC)
- LISW – Licensed Independent Social Worker (in DC)
- LMSW – Licensed Master Social Worker
- LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse
- MOT – Master of Occupational Therapy
- MPH – Masters of Public Health
- MS – Masters of Science
- MSN – Masters of Science in Nursing
- MSW – Masters of Social Work
- NHA – Nursing Home Administrator
- OTR/L – Occupational Therapist, Registered and Licensed
- PHR - Professional in Human Resources
- RN – Registered Nurse
- SHRM-CP - Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional