The Management Team

Sheila McMackin

Founder

In 1993, Sheila McMackin founded Wellspring Personal Care.  As an experienced Geriatric Care Manager and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she recognized that when individuals choose to be cared for at home, they should be assured that the quality of their lives will be maintained or improved.  In keeping with her commitment to educate consumers about home care choices, and set standards for the industry, she established the National Private Duty Association (NPDA) in 2002.   She has served as Chairman of the Board for the past nine years.   As a result of the work of the Illinois NPDA Chapter, providers of private duty home care in Illinois must now be licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.  Sheila is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and the Illinois Department of Public Health Home Health, Home Services and Home Nursing Advisory Board. 

Each year, under Sheila McMackin's direction and supervision, Wellspring Personal Care trains social work students from Ireland to work with older adults.  They also provide outreach services to the frail elderly Irish population in the Chicago Metropolitan area.

"We have been extremely pleased with the breadth of exposure that we have offered to practicum students including an introduction to the clinical issues related to aging, as well as social welfare policies that affect older adults and the disabled internationally." 

Sheila McMackin

Copyright 2011. Wellspring Personal Care. All Rights Reserved.

Steven C. Fox D.O. 

Medical Director Wellspring Personal Care

Dr. Steven C. Fox is a licensed physician and surgeon. He was the co-founder of Wellspring Gerontological Services (WGS), which provided comprehensive assessment and care management for older adults and persons with disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan area from 1985 through 1993.

Now in private practice, Dr. Fox applies the osteopathic philosophy and principles of wellness to his practice in geriatrics and disability medicine. For the past 27 years, the primary focus of Dr. Fox’s clinical practice, teaching and research has been on the care and treatment of the elderly and disabled. He conducts assessments of decision-making capacity, of functional capacity and of individual care needs.  Since 1989, he has conducted forensic examinations and provided expert testimony in criminal and civil elder abuse and financial exploitation trials.  He is a recognized court appointed expert in guardianship, undue influence, and probate proceedings.     Dr. Fox has taught and published on the topics assessment of decisional capacity, guardianship, reality testing, personality disorder, nursing home care and litigation.  As Medical Director for Wellspring Personal Care, he provides hands on consultation and oversight for all Wellspring clients requiring skilled nursing services.

He is a member of the American Geriatrics Society, the American Medical Directors Association, the Illinois Geriatric Society, and Illinois Citizens for Better Care.

Joe Ferguson MSW LSW

Director of Client Services

Joe Ferguson first entered health care almost twenty years ago as a caregiver, providing support to older adults with physical and mental challenges. This led to Joe continuing his education in care related fields. Joe brings to Wellspring a diverse background in advocacy and case management. With experience as a mental health counselor on a hospital geriatric inpatient unit to co-authoring an article on self-determination and motivational interviewing, Joe embraces the concept of "beginning where the client is" and facilitates a care plan that is tailored to the client’s individual needs.

As a Masters level graduate of the University of Illinois Jane Addams College of Social Work with a concentration in Community Health and Urban Development, Joe is uniquely qualified to interface with families in crisis and assist in linkage to community resources. Joe’s additional training is in Elder Abuse as a Case Worker, and in Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregivers Health (REACH); an evidence based intervention to assist family caregivers with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease.

Joe is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and The Chicago Bridge for emerging professionals in Aging.

Ellen Cohen MA

Business Manager 

Gwen Watkins MSW LCSW ACSW

  Business Development Consultant

Joyce Jamison

Administrative Assistant

Yvonne Mbongeh

Scheduler  

E x p e r t i s e          I n n o v a t i o n          B e t t e r   O u t c o m e s    a t   H o m e

Illinois Department of Public Health Licensed Agency

Founding Member of the National Private Duty Association