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Home Instead Senior Care
Skokie-Evanston / North Shore, Park Ridge / NW Side, Chicago

Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Glenview, Northbrook, Northfield, Kenilworth - North Shore: (847) 673-1250

 

Park Ridge, Morton Grove,  Lincolnwood, Niles, Des Plaines, Norridge, Harwood Heights - Near Northwest Suburbs: (847) 518-1400

 

Chicago - Within the City:    (773) 463-3500

Call us today at 847-673-1250 or For Employment Call 866-696-0940
HomeInstead.com > zzFranSite - 383 - Evanston and Skokie and North Shore > About Us > Meet Our Team

Meet Our Team

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Call us at (847) 673-1250 to learn how our CAREGivers can help you or your loved one.

Our CAREGivers come first - and deservedly so.  Without them, we couldn't provide care.  All CAREGivers go through a lengthy screening process which includes criminal background checks, Deparment of Motor Vehicle checks, work status verifications, previous employment verifications, and in-depth interviews.  To become a CAREGiver for Home Instead, a worker must be caring, compassionate, and extremely reliable.  All of our home care staff are company employees, covered by worker's compensation & liability insurance.  Home Instead handles all of the tax witholding for the CAREGivers wages.

Our elder care process begins with a free, no-obligation consultation, where a member of our office team meets with the client and family in the comfort of the client's home.  Our CAREGivers are often referred to as companions, homemakers, home helpers, personal care attendants, or home care workers.  Call us to learn more, or to set up a consultation.


Jackie & Michael Melinger - Owners

Owners Jackie & Michael Melinger both graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign.  Their experience includes health care management, human resources, customer service, and quality control. Jackie served as an Illinois Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, holds a Master's Degree in Human Resources from Chicago's Loyola University, and oversees staffing and bookkeeping.  Michael oversees client services, and overall administration of the company. Michael is a member of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors™, is currently serving a 3 year appointment on the Illinois Department of Public Health's Home Health Advisory Board, spent 7 years on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Chapter of the National Private Duty Association, and serves on the Skokie Health Department's IPLAN Committee.  Jackie & Michael became franchise owners in 2001 with Home Instead Senior Care, have 3 children and live in the North Shore.  Jackie & Michael also volunteer regularly in various community causes and activities, including nursing home pet therapy, Alzheimer’s support group facilitation, Parent Teacher Association, Youth Athletic Coaching, and the North Shore Senior Center Escorted Transportation Service.


Gina Sheffer

Gina Sheffer joined Home Instead Senior Care in 2004, and serves as the Director of Client Services. Providing support and communication, and helping families figure out solutions to tough issues are what she does best. Gina has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, and a Master's Degree in Human Services Administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago.


Biju Krishnan

Biju Krishnan joined Home Instead Senior Care's office team in June 2007. Originally from Calicut, India, Biju has a Master's Degree in Social Work from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. Biju spends most of his time at Home Instead recruiting and screening potential CAREGivers, and administering Home Instead's award winning training programs to the company's CAREGivers.  Biju also frequently serves as After Hours Service Manager for Home Instead.


Barbara Belsky, RN

Barbara Belsky, RN has 25 years of experience in nursing, geriatrics and rehabilitation.  Barbara has worked as a Director of Nursing for skilled nursing facilities as well as in home health nursing, and geriatric care management settings.    Her duties include training Home Instead's CAREGivers in the proper techniques of personal care and body mechanics, and performing in-home evaluations & quality control visits.  Barbara's expertise enhances Home Instead's ability to design and monitor plans of care for complex cases, and to provide technical support to our homecare workers in the field.

Kristina Turk

Kristina Turk joined Home Instead Senior Care as a Community Service Representative for the North Side of Chicago in July 2008.  Kristina has a BS in Psychology from Illinois State University, and a M.S. in Gerontology from the University of Missouri, St. Louis.  Kristina's role includes visiting client's as well as maintaining Home Instead's relationships with the healthcare community.

Our CAREGivers!

Some of our wonderful CAREGivers

Katherine Lee

Katherine joined Home Instead Senior Care in 2010 as an Administrative Assistant. Katherine holds a BA in Elementary Education from National-Louis University and was a Chicago Public Schools teacher for six years. She is very happy to be a part of the Home Instead team.

Sarah Stortz

Sarah Stortz joined Home Instead Senior Care’s team in May 2010.  As the Recruiting Manager Sarah spends most of her time at Home Instead recruiting and screening potential CAREGivers.  Sarah has a Marketing Degree and has obtained the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification after earning Villanova’s Master Certificate in Human Resources.

Brittany Shaler

Brittany Shaler joined Home Instead Senior Care in November of 2010.  Brittany attended the University of Toledo, and holds a degree in Social Work.  She has several years experience working in long term care, and the pharmaceutical industry. Brittany is Home Instead's Community Service Representative for the Northwest Side of Chicago and the North West Suburbs.

Ritika Sahni

Ritika Sahni joined Home Instead Senior Care in January of 2011.  Her background and experience include crisis intervention, career counseling, and healthcare management.  She is currently pursuing her MBA.  Ritika manages staffing and scheduling for Home Instead.

Tessa Silvestri

Tessa Silvestri joined the Home Instead Senior Care team in Skokie/Chicago as a Community Service Representative in April 2011.  Tessa has a BS in Psychology from Illinois State University with a minor in Gerontology, and recently completed her certificate in Marketing.  She has worked in healthcare/long term care for over 6 years.  Her previous employers include The Presbyterian Home in Evanston IL & Brookdale Senior Living in Vernon Hills IL.  Tessa covers Skokie, Morton Grove, Park Ridge, Niles, Des Plaines, and Lincolnwood for Home Instead Senior Care.

Bridget Murtha

Bridget Murtha joined Home Instead Senior Care as a Community Service Representative in June 2011. Bridget received her BSSW from The Ohio State University and her MSW from Loyola University Chicago. Her experience includes coordinating services for adults with developmental disabilities and providing medical social services to seniors receiving home health services. At Home Instead, Bridget oversees client services and maintains relationships with the eldercare community for the North Side of Chicago.


Walter

Walter is our company's mascot.  If you've visited Home Instead Senior Care's office, or stopped by our booth at one of the local philanthropy events such as the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, or health fairs such as Life Services Network's Annual Convention, you may have met Walter.  Walter is a loving & and affectionate individual and is currently pursuing his Pet Therapy certification!