Volume 12 | February 2020
Seeking Volunteers to Help with March for Meals
City officials and members of community organizations are invited to join SAGE Eldercare in March as it participates in the 18th annual March for Meals – a month-long, nationwide coming together of local community organizations, businesses, government officials and caring individuals to ensure that homebound, older adults are not forgotten. The average age of the clients SAGE delivers meals to is 83. Of those, 65% say they rarely have visitors other than their Meals on Wheels volunteer.

March for Meals participants have included NJ State Senator Thomas Kean Jr., Summit Mayor, Nora Radest, Police Chiefs from Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Springfield and Mountainside and local government officials and volunteers.

Established in 1966, SAGE’s Meals on Wheels is the oldest continuously run home delivery meal program in New Jersey. In 2019, approximately 400 volunteers delivered more than 43,729 meals to 212 people in Union County (Berkeley Heights, Mountainside, New Providence, Springfield, and Summit), Essex County (Millburn and Short Hills), and Morris County (Chatham and Madison).

“The services that we provide older adults in our area are critical; it’s not just a warm meal, but also a vital wellness visit,” said Marianne Kranz, SAGE Director of Meals on Wheels. “Together, we can keep older adults living independently, healthier at home and feeling more connected to their community as they age.”

For more information about participating in March for Meals, contact Marianne Kranz at: 908-598-5514 or email: mkranz@sageeldercare.org.

Pictured in photos from left: Summit Councilman Steve Bowman, New Providence Police Chief Anthony D. Buccelli with volunteer Kitty Hartman, SAGE Trustee and voluneer Chris Glacken and Summit Police Chief Robert Weck, Summit Mayor Nora Radest with a Meals on Wheels client, volunteer Honi Wasserman and NJ State Senator Thomas Kean Jr, SAGE Trustees John Hoffman and Claire Toth.
A Big Thank You to the Summit Rotary Club
Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Summit and New Providence visited SAGE last week to help deliver Meals on Wheels and spend the morning playing bingo with participants from SAGE's Spend-A-Day program. We are so appreciative of the support from the Rotary Club and thank them for all they do for SAGE and the community.
Pictured from left: SAGE Executive Director Angela Sullivan, Rotary Club members: Pete Bolton, Susan Watts, Swati Goohra, Joe Steiner, Vito Gallo and Ron Hutchison.
Rotary Club members pictured from left: Cristina Cruz, Jim Fleischmann and Susan Watts.
March and April Program Schedule
FREE Tax Assistance for 60 and Older        
Thurs: March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9  9:00 - 12:00 pm
Free tax counseling and preparation for middle and low income taxpayers, with special attention to those 60 years and older is available at SAGE on Thursdays through April 11. Assistance is provided by AARP. Appointments are necessary. For more information, please call SAGE at 908.598.5502.

Medicare 101               
Wed: March 8, April 15, May 20 & June 17 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Join us for one of our presentations by SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselors of Union County led by SHIP counselors of Union County SAGE. Come have all of your questions answered, including upcoming changes, different plan options and when and how to make changes to your plan. Individual appointments are also available. This is not a series, the same information will be covered on all four dates.

L ong-Term Care and Estate Planning Blunders        
Thurs, April 16  6:30 - 8:00 pm
Learn how to educate yourself to avoid the many common mistakes made when planning for you and your family’s future. The program will be led by Elder Law Attorney, Laurie Hauptman Esq from Hauptman and Hauptman. Come have all of your questions and concerns regarding estate planning answered.

Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Treatments
Wed, April 22  6:00 - 7:30 pm
Alicia O’Connor, MSW, LCSW of the Cognitive and Research Center of New Jersey will discuss symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, brain health and steps to maintain cognition. Ms. O’Connor will highlight advances in Alzheimer’s research and clinical trial opportunities. Participants are welcome to participate in a cognitive self-assessment following the event. Results will be available the following day.

Fraud 101
Thurs, April 23  2:00 - 3:00 pm
A representative from AARP NJ Speakers Bureau will help empower individuals to fight identity theft with proven resources and tools to help you spot and avoid Identity theft and other fraud.

Registration is required for all SAGE programs. Unless noted, please call 908-598-5548 or email education@sageeldercare.org.
"You are never too old to set another goal
or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis