fall / winter 2025

NEWS from SAGE:

Empowering Seniors, Supporting Families

A Meaningful Collaboration:

Creating the Wind Phone

Overlook Hospital and SAGE’s Furniture Restoration Workshop recently partnered to create a Wind Phone, now installed along the Park Line behind the hospital. A Wind Phone is a disconnected rotary phone placed in a quiet space, offering people a way to “call” loved ones who have passed away and express their thoughts aloud. There are more than 500 Wind Phones around the world, each providing a place for reflection, comfort and connection.

A dedication ceremony was held on October 3rd, attended by Overlook’s Chaplains, staff from The Thomas Glasser Caregivers Center, and members of the Overlook Bereavement Consortium. Also in attendance were representatives from SAGE’s Furniture Restoration Workshop. Pictured here from left to right are: Sandra Inwood, Dan Bottorff, Bernie Hall (who built the phone box), and Simon Rosenstein.

For more information about the Wind Phone visit www.mywindphone.com.

Welcome Charlotte March, LCSW

We’re thrilled to welcome Charlotte March, LCSW to the SAGE family! Charlotte comes to us from Atlantic Health, where she provided home visits to patients, offering guidance and emotional support for them and their caregivers.

If you need information or assistance navigating community resources or eldercare services for yourself or a loved one, call 908-598-5540 or email cmarch@sageeldercare.org to connect with her.

New Monthly Support Group for Caregivers:

What is Caregiver Burnout?

Caring for an older adult is an act of love, but can also take a toll on your health and well-being. Over time, the demands of caregiving can lead to caregiver burnout, a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion that affects your quality of life and your ability to provide care.

Signs of Caregiver Burnout

Constant fatigue or low energy
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless or resentful
Irritability or mood swings
Withdrawing from friends, family or activities
Frequent headaches, stomach issues or illness

Why It Happens?

Providing care without regular breaks
Feeling isolated or lacking support
Managing medical needs, daily chores and stress
Neglecting your own health and self-care

What You Can Do About It?

Ask for help from family, friends or community services
Take breaks even short periods of rest can help
Join a support group connecting with others can reduce isolation. SAGE offers a monthly support group.
Prioritize your health eat well, sleep and keep up with medical checkups
Consider adult day programs or in-home help.

The Bottom Line

Caregiver burnout doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’ve been giving too much without replenishing yourself. Seeking support is not only good for you, but it also ensures your loved one receives better care.

SAGE offers a range of programs designed to

help with caregiver burnout:

Spend-A-Day Medical Adult Day Center - A safe, social and individualized day program for older adults.

Home Care - Skilled, accredited home health aides to provide care at home.

Meals-on-Wheels - Nutritious meal delivery and grocery shopping.

SHIP Medicare Counseling - Free guidance to help you navigate Medicare.

Info Care - Assistance connecting with community resources and referrals.

Monthly Support Group for caregivers

SAGE can help lighten the load and

give caregivers peace of mind.

Welcome Patricia Sullivan to Home Care

Please join us in welcoming Patricia Sullivan, our new RN Field Supervisor in Home Care. A graduate of the Muhlenberg School of Nursing, Patricia brings both clinical expertise and a compassionate approach to her work. She comes to us from Hackensack Meridian Health, and we’re excited to have her on our team.

She’s pictured here with Shareefah Holt, Scheduling Coordinator.

If you’re looking for care for a loved one, call us today at 908-273-8400 to schedule an in-home assessment. We know that finding accredited, reliable and personalized care can be challenging. SAGE has been providing trusted home care to families in our community since 1954.

SPEND-A-DAY SNAPSHOT - Luau Party!

Our Spend-A-Day Medical Adult Day Center recently hosted a luau for clients, families, and friends. The day was filled with crafts, delicious food, a limbo contest and even Hawaiian dancers!

Spend-A-Day is open weekdays from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. We offer care and companionship to older adults who need assistance and can benefit from increased socialization outside of the home. The program provides a unique setting for cognitive and physical activities with the added benefit of medical support. To learn more contact Stephanie, our SPAD social worker at (908) 598-5519.

Need Help with Medicare?

Navigating Medicare can be confusing. Our trained counselors offer free, one-on-one guidance through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to help you review your coverage, compare plans, and understand your options.

Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. To schedule an appointment, contact Tenisha Morgan at tmorgan@sageeldercare.org or call 908-273-6999.

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Thank you to everyone who joined us in September for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. As our Executive Director Galina Muller shared, SAGE’s success is built on the hard work, dedication and passion of those who donate their time to our programs.

We are grateful for all of our volunteers from Meals-on-Wheels, Spend-A-Day and the Furniture Restoration Workshop. Each of you makes a difference every day - whether it’s delivering a hot meal and a smile, helping in our kitchen, calling a bingo game or skillfully restoring furniture that helps fund our programs.

A special congratulations to Tara Nash, who received the Ben Zukoff Outstanding Youth Award for her incredible work at Spend-A-Day this summer. Tara played games, led crafts, served meals, engaged with our clients and even performed on her violin.

Thank you also to PNC Bank for sponsoring this meaningful celebration.