Meet Our Team

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 currently on the Board of Directors for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly - Chicago Chapter​, 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 Home Care Association of America, 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 & adult day care pet therapy, Alzheimer's Association support group facilitation, Parent Teacher Association, Youth Athletic Coaching, and the North Shore Senior Center Escorted Transportation Service. In September of 2013, Jackie and Michael were honored by a local senior organization, North Shore Senior Center, with the 2013 Corporate Sponsorship Philanthropic Award​ for their support of NSSC's programs for seniors and their families throughout the Chicagoland and North Shore Suburban area.​

Gina Sheffer joined Home Instead in 2004, and has been an important member of our team throughout the years. She has worked, and is knowledgeable in all areas of the business including Recruitment, Client Services, Sales, Marketing and Operations Management. Gina is now the General Manager and oversees the day-to-day operations of the company. Gina is passionate about seniors and loves seeing the special relationships that our clients and their Care Professionals form. Facilitating support and communication with the team and helping families figure out solutions to tough issues are what she does best. Gina has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago, and a Master's Degree in Human Services Administration from National Louis University.

Ritika Smith (formerly Sahni) joined Home Instead in January of 2011 as a Staffing Manager. Her background and experience include crisis intervention, physical rehabilitation, career counseling, and healthcare management. Over her time with Home Instead, Ritika has built strong relationships with our community partners across the areas we service. She is currently our Sales and Marketing Manager and works to make sure our relationships in the community are strong, while providing support to the team. Ritika cares deeply about our clients and spends time ensuring their needs are being met, as well as giving peace of mind to their families and loved ones.

Brittany Watson joined the Home Instead team in June of 2018 as an Intake & Care Planning Manager. Brittany supports our community partners and assists new clients and their families with implementing care. Brittany graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation. Prior to Home Instead Brittany worked at an adult day center caring for individuals with dementia, then went on to work for a Continuing Care Retirement Community where she managed the in-house caregiving agency. Brittany is passionate about assisting others through the aging process, providing education, and connecting people with community resources. Brittany is an advocate for Dementia Friendly America, and member of the Dementia Friendly Evanston Initiative. DFEI works to maximize the quality of life, community participation, and independence for those living with dementia and their care partners through community-wide education, outreach, and advocacy. In Brittany’s spare time she enjoys the outdoors, gardening, music, art, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog Bubba.

Nevena Popovic started working for Home Instead in the spring of 2023.  She is one of our Intake and Care Planning Managers and works with families who live in Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles, Norridge, Harwood Heights, Morton Grove, and the Northwest Side of Chicago.  She spends her time meeting with families who are interested in learning more about Home Instead and how we can help them and/or their loved ones.  Nevena also spends time forming meaningful relationships with other professionals in the senior care field in order to provide our clients with top quality care.  Nevena grew up in the area and received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  Nevena has always enjoyed working with people and understanding what their needs are.  Nevena is most looking forward to providing our clients and their families with the peace of mind that having a caregiver brings to them.  Nevena lives in the area and in her spare time enjoys working out and spending time with her family.

Rick Gall joined the Home Instead team in 2014.  He joined as a CAREGiver and quickly became a Lead CAREGiver.  Currently, Rick is one of our Quality Assurance Coordinators and spends his time in the field performing CarePro introductions, conducing client reassessments and quality assurance visits with our clients.  Prior to joining Home Instead, Rick spent many years as a computer graphics artist.  However, Rick has truly found his passion and enjoys meeting with clients and learning about their vast life experiences.  Rick is grateful to be a part of a team of individuals who love helping seniors in our community.  Rick grew up in Chicago and currently resides in Evanston.  When he's not working, he enjoys walking on the lakefront in Evanston, practicing yoga, painting, and spending time with family.