FOUNDER 
Jan Welsh, CMC, LPC, CRC, MS

Jan is certified in Care Management and Rehabilitation Counseling and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master's degree in Human Services.  She started Special Care for Older Adults, LLC in 1999 and has since served hundreds of people in the area of geriatric care management.

She is an active member of several professional organizations:

• Director for ALCA Board and member since 2000, past president and long time board member of the Midwest ALCA Chapter
• Association for Professionals in Aging: Past board member
• Everything Eldercare
• Health Care Friends

Professional education is important to Jan.  She chairs ALCA's webinar series and is active with the Association for Professionals in Aging scholarship program.  Jan regularly attends seminars and supports members of the Special Care team in their related education.

Jan is also involved with the local Aging Life Care™ Network and a volunteer for the Caregiver Assistance Network, and is a member of the Cincinnati Woman's Club. She lives with her husband and business partner, Bruce Fairbanks, and enjoys her family, neighborhood, reading and cooking.

Awards:

• Outstanding Service Provider in the Field of Aging, 2012, Association for Professionals in Aging, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Outstanding Chapter Member Award, 2008, Midwest Chapter ALCA

Credentials:

• Care Manager Certified (CMC) The National Academy of Certified Care Managers
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) The Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) State of Ohio
• Master of Science, Xavier University

Jan is very proud of the Special Care team and the work they do.

LIFE CARE MANAGER

Sonja Cheatham, MA

Sonja joins SCOA with 20 plus years of experience within the Social Services field. Her career has extended over the lifespan from being an experienced Care Manager in senior housing and Elderly Services Programs to advocating for the safety of children and being a voice for those with mental illness. Sonja believes strongly in helping people remain independent in their home, if that is their choice and making sure that all people are treated fairly and guided in a non-judgmental manner. Sonja is a true Advocate.

Sonja resides in the city of Mason, Ohio. She is the proud mother of three children. Sonja is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She enjoys community service work, volunteerism and spending quality time with family and friends.

Credentials:

• MA, Mental Health Counseling, University of Cincinnati
• BA, Public Administration, Ohio University
• Former OSHIIP Volunteer
• Former Hospice of Cincinnati Volunteer
• Certified MOLST Facilitator

LIFE CARE MANAGER

Mary Keegan, MA, PC-S, CRC-CS

Mary has provided care management services for Special Care clients since 2007.  She has more than 35 years of experience in rehabilitation counseling and working with individuals with disabilities.  Mary is former Southwest Area Manager for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) where she had responsibility for a 17 county area.  Mary supervises graduate students from Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati.  Mary's experience provides her a wealth of knowledge and resources to help our clients.

Mary is a native Cincinnatian, from a large family and enjoys getting together with them as well as her large network of friends.

Credentials:

• Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, State of Ohio
• National Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - Clinical Supervision Certification
• Master of Arts, Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Cincinnati

LIFE CARE MANAGER

Jody Tsevat, RN, MS

Jody has been a Care Manager with Special Care since 2006.  She has extensive experience as an oncology nurse at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and Cincinnati Hematology-Oncology.  She has expertise in helping clients with multiple medical conditions or complex situations and is skilled in working with families.

Jody and her husband have two daughters.  She enjoys running and traveling.

Credentials:

• Registered Nurse in Ohio
• BS, Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
• MS, Rehabilitation Oncology Nursing, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

ASSISTANT LIFE CARE MANAGER

Beth Duff

Beth taught high school science in the Cincinnati area for 31 years and is a world traveler who loves working with people from other cultures.  She uses her travel stories and iPad images to engage her clients in conversations and memories of their own experiences.

Beth continues her education work by teaching and supplying teaching tools and books for children in Zambia and in Central America.

Beth has a son who recently got his PhD in Chemical Engineering.  She regularly trains for and walks in half marathons, recently completing 12 marathons in 12 months.

Credentials:

• MBA, Xavier University
• BS, Education, University of Kentucky

ASSISTANT LIFE CARE MANAGER

Mary Hennigan

For 30 years Mary was a teacher in Cincinnati Public Schools.  She has extensive experience with Montessori (whole child) teaching methods and, as a committee member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, she helped develop the English/Language Arts Assessment for middle school teachers.

Mary enjoys travel, Chinese brush painting and reading.  She enjoys incorporating her writing and art interests in projects with her clients.

Credentials:

• BS, Liberal Arts, Edgecliff College, Cincinnati, Ohio
• MA, Education with Montessori certification, Xavier University
• 1990 Distinguished Teacher Fellow Award, American Federation of Teachers, Washington, DC

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Bruce Fairbanks

Bruce began his career in teaching at the University of Cincinnati and then worked as a computer programmer.  After several years in this field, he made a career change and became a math teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools.  Bruce provides support for Special Care on many operational matters including accounting and office management.

Bruce lives with his wife and business partner, Jan Welsh, and recently acquired a dog to train as a therapy dog.

Credentials:

• MS, Mathematic, University of Cincinnati
• Licensed Teacher, State of Ohio, Professional Adolescence to Young Adult (7-12)

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Lisa Grubbs

Lisa has more than 25 years experience in office administrative support and customer service.  She is a former employee of The Norwood City Schools where she worked as an Elementary Special Education Aide.  Lisa also has a background in dental health and has worked & volunteered educating children and adults about the importance of oral health.

In her spare time she enjoys volunteer fostering for a local animal rescue group and traveling.  Lisa lives in Norwood with her husband and two sons.

Credentials:

• Attended University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College

Jan Welsh, Owner & Founder, LPC, CRC, CMC is a certified member
of the Aging Life Care Association™

AGING LIFE CARE™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association. Only ALCA Members are authorized to use this term to identify their services. AGING LIFE CARE PROFESSIONAL™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association. It is an indication of membership in ALCA, and only ALCA Members are authorized to use this term.