Mary Koffend, President & Founder
Caring.com Expert
Mary Koffend is the president of Accountable Aging Care Management (AACM). AACM is an eldercare consulting and care management firm that works with elder clients and their families to find the best care providers and services to meet their needs. AACM provides an objective, third-party perspective on the best options for the elder and a single point of contact for the care providers, elder, and family.
Before starting AACM, Koffend served with the Social Security Administration (SSA) throughout Texas for more than 30 years and was ultimately responsible for Houston's largest and most complex SSA client service operation.
Koffend has also managed Medicaid provider services programs for the State of Texas. As a care manager for Accountable Aging, Koffend has become an invaluable resource for families who need a guidance counselor along the aging journey.
Recently Published on Caring.com
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You are doing a wonderful job as a caregiver for your father. However, you are his son and this is the role that you perform best. Family caregivers wear out quickly becaus...
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There are many resources to assist with care coordination for your mother with Alzheimer’s. It is very honorable that you want to care for your mom. It is also important to... -
There are several ways you can ease your feelings of guilt as a long distance caregiver about not being able to visit your father as often as you would like. The best way i... -
Should I consider moving Mom out of the room she shares with Dad due to her dementia? — Sep 19, 2011Enjoy the moment! The fact that your parents are both happy living together and are much in love is a gift to them and to you. What is important is that your mom is pleased... -
There are many things you can do to support your parents and make these next years the best they can be for your parents and leave you with more peace of mind. As a long di... -
The simple answer to your questions is a person with Alzheimer’s who resides in a nursing home can have a sitter. The place to begin is to talk with the social worker at th... -
Congratulations on asking the questions before you need more help in caregiving for your mother-in-law. As you probably already know, the big issues with seniors and their ... -
How should I handle my mother in law trying to take over the caregiving of my husband? — May 27, 2011Having a husband who is ill and may have leukemia must be very tough. My heart goes out to you. The feelings you are having are complex enough and in addition you are deali... -
Conflict with parents under any circumstances, and especially when they are in a nursing home, can be very frustrating and upsetting. One thing you should consider is that ... -
Most in home care conflicts result from misunderstandings of what is wanted and what is needed. When a person is concerned about the conflicts because they feel that there ... -
Social Security has made an error, and refuses to fix it. How can we get it corrected? — Feb 04, 2011Your mother’s status with Social Security changed when she became a widow. The Medicare card reflects her claim’s relationship with Social Security. For example, the card s... -
Will Medicare or Medicaid help with my wife's Alzheimer's care even though we're not of retirement age yet? — Jan 17, 2011Do not give up hope as there are options. Medicare and Medicaid are only a part of the possible care for a person with Alzheimer’s. After your wife has been receiving Socia... -
There are no easy answers if a spouse is not helping to get the best care for the other spouse. Your step-father may be getting counsel from another advisor or a health car... -
What responsibility does an assisted living have to report problems to the resident's family members? — Sep 30, 2010Communication between any facility and the family can be the source of great satisfaction and at times great frustration. Reporting problems with a resident to the family ... -
How can we pay for a caregiver to relieve Mom? — May 23, 2010Hiring a caregiver to help at the skilled nursing facility with your dad is certainly an option. • Begin discussing the situation with the social worker at the facility and... -
My husband pasted away recently. He was an active letter... — Apr 07, 2010It is understandable that you feel that you are being penalized. The loss of benefits that you were expecting can be upsetting. There can be confusion and different expecta... -
Moving seniors from one state to another can be very complex because of health insurance issues. Original Medicare, Part A and B, are the only portable part of the insuranc... -
Many caregivers have questions about the direct hire of caregivers or using an agency. There are certainly pro’s and con’s to be considered. Issues for Direct Hire: • Abl... -
How can we coordinate a care plan for my parents who have vastly different caregiving needs? — Oct 27, 2009Dealing with the different caregiving needs of couples is often a very difficult situation. The needs of each spouse for medical and social services makes placement in a si... -
Does SSI help with funeral expenses? — Oct 27, 2009There is no funeral benefit for recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The purpose of SSI benefits is to provide a floor against poverty by providing a ... -
How can I get my father to be more active? — Aug 22, 2009Getting a senior to be active can take a lot of creativity, planning, and support on your part. Often the senior has been moved from the community that he has known and th... -
How Do I Move Mom to Assisted Living? — Aug 03, 2009Moving someone with dementia is difficult, but often necessary for their health and well-being. There are some excellent dementia specific assisted living facilities where ... -
Is there a facility for COPD hospice care? — Jun 09, 2009Services may be made available in your home to assist your wife in her advanced stages of COPD. Palliative care or hospice care may be the next step to consider in providin... -
Thanks for the service to your mother-in-law. I would highly encourage you and your husband to celebrate the efforts you made in the past with caring for her and the contin... -
Are there tax deductions for assisted living care? — May 13, 2009Tax deductions for both caregivers and assisted living can be made under the right circumstances and with the proper documentation. It’s common knowledge that you can...
