We are an experienced team of nurses, social workers, gerontologists, and care managers. Through our extensive knowledge of the eldercare system, local resources and facilities, we deliver compassionate, efficient and cost effective services.

Each of our team members is a seasoned health care expert with wide spread experience to provide you and your family members with the skills and knowledge you need.

sage leafSage Team Members

circNina Pflumm Herndon, MAG, CMC, CLPF (Lic. #262)

Nina Pflumm HerndonSage Eldercare Founder and Executive Director
BA Anthropology, Denison University; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Nina is fortunate to have developed many wonderful relationships with older adults, starting with her own grandmothers. These experiences shaped her in many ways and inspired her decision to focus on healthcare and health related issues affecting older adults throughout her career.

While working at Age Wave IMPACT, the nation’s leading research and marketing firm focused on older adults, Nina learned about the difficulties that adult children often face in fulfilling the needs of their aging parents and keeping up with their own family and work responsibilities. She knew then that she wanted to apply her healthcare expertise to help older adults and their families directly. She decided to earn her master’s degree in gerontology and became a professional geriatric care manager. Today at Sage Eldercare Solutions, she strives to empower people to make wise eldercare decisions, relieve family caregiver worries, and help older adults live better.

Nina holds a master’s degree in gerontology from San Francisco State University and earned a certificate in Professional Fiduciary Management from California State University at Fullerton. Nina is a member of the Professional Fiduciary Association of California and the American Society on Aging. She is an active member of the Aging Life Care Association (formerly the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers) and has been honored with the association’s President’s Award, the Rose Kleiner Award for Dedication and Service, and the Outstanding Chapter Member Award for the Western Region. She has also served on the Western Regional Chapter Board.

Nina is a licensed professional fiduciary, registered administrator for residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE) in California, and a certified care manager (CMC). She frequently speaks on care and quality of life issues and has published a chapter on Quality of Life for each of the 5 editions of the Geriatric Care Manager’s Handbook.


circAriana Alex, MAG, CMC

Ariana AlexDirector of Care Management Services
BA Psychology, University of San Francisco; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Ariana grew up having strong relationships with many elders in her family and community. She has always had a passion for helping others so it is no surprise that she has chosen a career working with older adults and their families.

In her current role as the Director of Care Management Services, Ariana works closely with Nina Herndon, Sage Eldercare Founder and Executive Director, as well as with the Sage Care Management team to ensure positive outcomes for clients and their families.

Ariana began her work at Sage as the Director of Home Care. She created a strong home care program which focuses on providing quality care and meaningful engagement. She is trained as a Positive Approach to Care Trainer (CPT) and trains Sage home care providers in this specialized dementia training program based on Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care philosophy.

Previously, Ariana worked at Coventry Park Assisted Living Community in San Francisco as the Director of The Memory Enhancement Program and Associate Director of Assisted Living. She has direct experience in creating and conducting activities for older adults, especially those with memory loss. In her role at Coventry Park, she provided on-going support and guidance to family members who were experiencing the challenges associated with memory loss.

Ariana earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in gerontology from the University of San Francisco(USF). While studying at USF she participated in intergenerational research with the FROMM Institute for Lifelong Learning. She completed her master’s degree in gerontology from San Francisco State University and was awarded the Michelle Benjamin Scholarship. Ariana is a member of the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) and a certified care manager (CMC).


circJill Melvin, MSW, LCSW, CMC

Jill MelvinClinical Care Manager Lead
BA Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara; MSW with Gerontology specialization, University of California Berkeley

Jill has worked with older adults and their families for the last 20 years and joining Sage is a return to her roots as a Care Manager. Jill started her career with Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco and the Bay Area, first as a Care Manager and then as the Director of the Conservatorship Program. She was court appointed for more than 250 older adults in her five years as Director. Following her time with JFCS, Jill worked as a liaison between the City and County of San Francisco’s Public Guardian’s office and the five main hospital Social Services departments, encouraging timely discharges from acute care hospitals to appropriate levels of care for patients waiting to be conserved. Just prior to joining Sage, Jill worked for a local homecare agency. Jill is enthusiastic about and most enjoys working with older adults and their families to promote healthy aging and quality of life.


circAdrienne Uyenco, MA, CMC

Clinical Care Manager Lead
BA Psychology, San Jose State University; MA Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University

Adrienne has worked in the Social Services field for 21 years in various clinical and healthcare settings serving older adults, rehab patients, persons with acquired brain injury and mental health needs, hospice, and families with young children. She got her start working with older adults as a Social Services Director in various skilled nursing facilities in the South Bay and found her true calling in working with older adults. In her many years of experience, Adrienne has provided skilled and detailed assistance to clients in developing and implementing care plans; providing supportive bereavement counseling; hospital and rehab discharge planning; and facilitating training and multidisciplinary team meetings. Adrienne feels that paramount to a successful relationship between care manager and client is forming a real connection and ensuring her clients’ needs and concerns are heard. She works hard to authentically validate her clients’ feelings and experiences. Adrienne feels most passionate about working with older adults facing dementia and complex medical conditions, helping to safely support their independence while encouraging ongoing growth and engagement.


circJennifer Danzer, MSW, CMC

Jennifer DanzerCare Management Operations Lead
BA Psychology, Indiana University; MSW, University of Iowa

Jennifer has worked as a social worker for almost 20 years and has received the greatest satisfaction when serving older adults and their families. She has a comprehensive professional background as a clinical social worker encompassing experiences in home healthcare, substance abuse, subacute skilled nursing care, acute hospital coordination, and hospice. Throughout her career, she has developed broad knowledge of end-of-life issues, dementia-related issues, long-term care concerns, family dynamics, and medical and mental health issues. She has provided supportive counseling, problem solving, crisis intervention, coordination of discharge plans, and grief counseling. Jennifer’s goal is to provide clients and their families with education regarding their situation, to develop strategies to best meet clients’ needs, and to determine ways to improve their quality of life.


circErin Frost, MA, CMC

Erin FrostCare Manager
BA Psychology, Texas Wesleyan University; MA Gerontology, University of North Texas

Erin has worked with seniors and their families for ten years, six of these as a care manager at the Council on Aging in Santa Clara County. Erin has also worked in home safety and fall prevention to identify fall risks in the home and help seniors age safely in place; in this role, she educated various professionals on the importance of home safety and modifications. Erin’s interests in the field of aging include holistic health and the documented benefits of inter-generational contact and animal-assisted therapy. Erin attended Texas Wesleyan University and the University of North Texas, where she earned her Master’s degree in Gerontology.


circMary Collins, MSW, LCSW, CMC

Mary CollinsCare Manager
BA History and Art History, Santa Clara University; MSW and Gerontology Certificate, Tulane University

For more than 25 years, Mary has worked as a clinical social worker serving older adults and their families. She has an extensive professional background as a social worker, including in a community-based geriatric medical clinic providing long-term care management to at risk seniors in the Tenderloin. Mary also worked at the Department of Aging and Adult Services in San Francisco implementing a specialized care management program for seniors through the Public Guardian office, and she also worked as an elder abuse investigator with Adult Protective Services. Through her experiences in community-based senior services, she has developed deep knowledge of elder abuse issues, crisis intervention, conservatorships, care giver training and supervision, dementia related issues, end-of-life concerns, and medical and mental health issues. Mary has focused her career on providing older adults with services, support, and interpersonal connections that will enable them to maintain their highest level of independence and quality of life.


circTalya Onorato, MA

Care Manager
BA Psychology, San Francisco State University; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Talya’s dedication to working with older adults is rooted in childhood experiences when she accompanied her mother, a Registered Nurse, to care for older friends who were terminally ill or living with dementia. She turned her innate enjoyment of being with the elderly into her profession, earning a master’s degree in Gerontology from San Francisco State University, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and caregiver strategies. Her work over the last 18 years started in an adult day center developing lively activities, especially with music and song, to stimulate and engage participants with dementia. She then moved to an Assisted Living facility where her genuine concern for the residents’ well-being and safety helped her become a trusted and highly respected professional. Her latest position was as a Client Care Manager for a home care agency where she was responsible for conducting assessments, creating care plans, and providing oversight for her clients and their care providers. Talya brings respect for their dignity, genuine compassion and wise understanding to her work with older adults. For her, enhancing the quality of life for older adults is not just a career, it’s her passion.


circVeronica Padilla, MA, CMC

Veronica Padilla

Care Manager
BA Psychology, Stanford University; MA Psychology, Stanford University

Inspired by her relationship with her grandmother, Veronica made the career change from quality assurance in mental health and education policy to senior care 13 years ago. She has served as a resident/family advocate in a memory care assisted living, Executive Director of an assisted living, Director of Home Care at Sage Eldercare Solutions, and most recently, as an Executive Director at Sunrise Senior Living for almost 5 years. A common thread throughout Veronica’s career is that she is passionate about ensuring that individuals are receiving quality care. In her role as an Executive Director, she was responsible for the entire operations of the community, but most importantly, the quality of the resident’s nursing care, which she did through her daily oversight of the community’s nursing and care teams, ensuring that resident care plans were accurate and followed diligently. She executed the community’s COVID-19 mitigation plan to ensure the safety of residents and team members and one of her proudest achievements is having led a team, working in a high risk setting, through a pandemic. Having started her career in memory care, Veronica believes in the importance of providing older adults with a sense of purpose and fostering independence.


circCraig Cady, MAASM, CMC

Craig Cady, MAASM

Care Manager
BA English Literature, Bradley University; MA Aging Services Management, University of Southern California – Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

Craig has a lifelong passion for senior health and safety, and for promoting social and spiritual wellbeing. His experience ranges from managing care in assisted living settings, creating collaborative intergenerational arts programming, and conducting research on best practices for healthy aging. His professional experience and education have given him proficiency in managing high levels of care individually and in a long-term care setting, dementia-related issues, end-of-life care, and navigating systems of support. He has a deep understanding of the importance of community throughout the life course and works to engage collaborative networks that encourage healthy aging. His goal is to work with seniors and their loved ones not only to maintain physical and mental health, but also to build connections and foster meaning and joy for people of all ages.


circHannah Choung, MAG, RCFE, SRES®, CRTS™

Hannah Choung

Care Manager
BA Psychology, University of California Davis; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Hannah is a San Francisco Bay Area native who has served the aging community for over 20 years. Hannah grew up around older adults as her family owned and operated a small senior community where she was a personal caregiver and later moved into operations as a licensed Administrator for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly. Her passion for older adults has been cultivated through various experiences, from working as a Marketing Director in upscale senior communities to a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) and Residential Transition Specialist (CRTS™), specializing in working with older adults in residential relocation and transitions. Hannah believes every client’s needs are uniquely different and should be approached with dignity, compassion, and personalization care. Her goal is to be an advocate who provides sound solutions through a holistic approach to enable aging adults to maintain independence and improve their overall quality of life.


circRaenika Butler, MAG, CMC

Raenika

Care Manager
BA Psychology, San Francisco State University; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Raenika’s heart and passion to serve the elder population stemmed from her close relationship with her great aunt who taught her how to have patience and empathy for older adults. She is a compassionate leader and advocate for seniors and adults with disabilities with 10 years of experience caring for elders living with multiple chronic health conditions, behavioral and mental health needs, and various types of dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. Over the last five years, Raenika served as an adult day health care director in San Francisco’s Bayview district where she led an interdisciplinary team that provided skilled person centered care, rehabilitative therapy, and personal care assistance to seniors, and she provided consultation and support to families during the challenging times of grief and bereavement. Necessitated by COVID, Raenika implemented an innovative technology program by providing senior friendly smart devices to seniors that allowed them the opportunity to join the rest of the world by making virtual video calls with center staff, their loved ones, their physicians, and other health care providers from the safety of their homes. As a gerontologist, Raenika enjoys researching new ways to expand quality of care and services for older adults and completed UCSF’s Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging program where she conducted research to begin developing different models of affordable residential care communities for the baby boomer generation. Raenika takes pride in making seniors and families feel at ease by helping them access the resources available to them through navigating the complex health and social service system, and at the foundation of her work, she is committed to ensuring that elders remain valuable members of society who are worthy of making contributions to their communities with their rich life experiences.


circJane Gere, RN

Jane Gere

Care Manager
BA Psychology, Drew University; ADN, City College of San Francisco

A long-standing interest in health and the magic of the human mind and body inspired Jane to obtain a nursing degree after a career in small business. While assisting family members with dementia, she was introduced to the unique challenges it presents for those afflicted and their families. Jane pursued her passion for helping others and has worked as a care manager for over 12 years. She finds it deeply satisfying to help clients with various challenges maintain quality of life and enjoys offering support to family members.


circTanya Piacentini, MAG

Tanya Piacentini

Care Manager
BS Public Health with a concentration in Health Service Administration, San Jose State University; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Tanya has been working with the older adult population for the last 9 years and has a demonstrated work history of providing and advocating quality care. She started her career as a caregiver and med-tech in an assisted living community in Santa Cruz and worked there for almost 7 years. As an undergraduate at SJSU, she completed an internship at Stanford where she participated in healthy aging research to help reduce chronic disease among low-income elders across the Bay Area. Following her passion to help older adults in need, she pursued a master’s degree in Gerontology at SFSU and her thesis project was focused on quality of care in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last few years, she has been working in nursing home litigation helping support an expert witness in elder abuse cases. Her wide range of research and work history has allowed her to learn what is necessary to provide personalized care to clients and their families and how important it is as we age. Tanya believes everyone deserves to live with dignity and her goal is to create a safe, healthy, and comfortable living environment for people as they enter their next chapter of life.


circColette Chiparo, MAG, CMC

Care Manager
BA Sociology, Loras College; MA Gerontology, Concordia University

Colette took the road less travelled in coming to work with seniors. After a 15 year career working with animals, Colette decided to pursue her passion of making a difference in the lives of seniors. While caring for her grandmother, Colette experienced the overwhelming responsibility and frustration that comes with navigating the best resources and support for seniors, especially when one is thrown into it amidst a crisis. This led Colette to begin a continuous education in aging, dementia, and end of life care, eventually pursuing a Masters in Gerontology at Concordia University. Colette started her career at San Francisco Towers working in the Skilled Nursing Unit as both Social Services and Activity Director before following her passion to work with seniors with dementia at AlmaVia of San Francisco as the Assistant Memory Care Manager. It was here that she was able to utilize her End of Life Doula skills to assist the high acuity residents, many of whom were on hospice, to have the best quality of life and a meaningful and peaceful death. Colette’s goal is to build long term relationships, based on trust and friendship, with each of her clients and their loved ones, and provide support and guidance through the end of life.


circCarly Migdal, MA, CMC
Carly Migdal, MA

Care Manager
BA Communication, San Diego State University; MA Communication, San Diego State University.

Carly is a Marin County native with 9 years of experience serving seniors and their families. Her work in elder care was inspired by her relationship with her grandparents and the frustrating complexities that arose while helping them navigate their care needs. She began her journey in elder care as an Ombudsman and has since taken on notable roles including Ombudsman Regional Coordinator, Social Service Director at a skilled nursing facility, and Director of Resident Services at a continuing care retirement community. Carly brings with her extensive knowledge of senior care facilities (independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care), transitions in care needs, aging related issues, end-of-life planning, dementia care, elder abuse concerns, and crisis intervention. Carly is passionate about providing person-centered care focused on quality of life for both seniors and their families. Her goal is to promote independence, purpose, and joy for seniors at all stages of life.


circDorene Yamaguchi, MA

Care Manager
BA Psychology, University of California Santa Cruz; MA International Educational Development with Concentration in International Humanitarian Issues, Teachers College, Columbia University Graduate School of Education

Close family relationships with elders and history working with older adults in the United States and Japan nurtured Dorene’s values of building strong intergenerational relationships and motivated her passion for geriatric care management. With previous employment as a Deputy Public Guardian Conservator in Santa Clara County, as well as a Care Manager at Council on Aging and Catholic Charities – Golden Gateway Older Adult Mental Health Program, Dorene is adept at working with older adults facing complex medical conditions such as dementia, traumatic brain injury, and other cognitive impairments. As a member of Santa Clara County’s Financial Abuse Specialist Team during her tenure at the Public Guardian’s Office, Dorene received specialized training in investigating cases involving elder abuse and neglect, demonstrating her proficiency in safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable individuals. Dorene’s experience as a licensed phlebotomist, working directly with patients in county hospitals in critical settings such as the emergency room, emergency psychiatric services, and intensive care units strengthened her ability to support individuals experiencing acute medical emergencies as well as severe cognitive, psychological, and physical impairments. Dorene embraces a client-centered approach that upholds the dignity of her clients by offering creative solutions to challenges with focus on integrating each client’s joys in life, while maintaining client safety and ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of both clients and their loved ones.


circBrittany Freeman, MAG

Care Manager
BA Sociology with Gerontology Minor, CSU Stanislaus; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Brittany has been helping older adults and people with disabilities maintain independence by utilizing innovative whole health solutions for over 10 years. Since she was a child, Brittany has had the unique experience of being a primary caregiver to her mother, where she witnessed the difficulties her family faced while navigating various social and healthcare systems. Inspired by her personal experience, Brittany’s undergraduate degree concentrated on Human Services, and, in her graduate studies, she focused on exploring root causes of challenging behaviors and non-pharmacological solutions for falls management. Brittany’s career in elder care began in 2012 at Sunrise Senior Living as an Activities Assistant, and, over the ensuing years, she advanced her career to assume the role of Senior Program Manager at care.coach, where her expertise in falls management and dementia care was channeled. Brittany’s goal is to comprehend the unique needs and preserve the autonomy of her clients while striving to find creative, non-pharmacological solutions wherever and whenever feasible.


circAlex Dvorak, MA, AMFT

Care Manager
BA Psychology, University of San Francisco; MA Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies

Alex has worked in eldercare for over six years, focusing on the social and emotional well-being of older adults–particularly those with dementia. Across her experiences on a national warmline, in assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities, and as an activities specialist through The Hummingbird Project, she has cultivated a creative and collaborative approach to care. Her ethos ensures clients’ needs are met while prioritizing space for their joy and self-expression. She has deep knowledge in crisis and end-of-life counseling, family systems, care coordination, and holistic wellness. Alex uses open communication and problem-solving to create unique and well-rounded care that strays from a prescriptive method and focuses on the client as an individual who continuously strives to learn and grow.


circTeri Kalama, LCSW

Teri Kalama, ACSW

Care Manager On Call
BA Japanese, UC Santa Barbara; MSW, Hawaii Pacific University

Teri has worked as a Medical Social Worker since 2011 with experience in the inpatient and outpatient settings. She has professional experience in discharge planning, hospice, palliative care, and dementia care. For the last 5 years, she has worked with medically fragile, homebound patients providing Social Work services such as long term planning, community resource referrals, and goals of care discussions. Teri believes in patient centered care with the highest ethical standards and utmost respect for a person’s autonomy in their care.

circAlfredo Cruz

Recruitment & Personnel Management Supervisor
BS Business Administration, San Francisco State University

Alfredo brings to Sage over 12 years of experience working in the senior care industry in senior living communities all over the Bay Area. Alfredo has assumed many roles in a community, from working in administration, sales & marketing, activities, care, and food & beverage. For the past few years, he has been an Executive Director, overseeing the day-to-day operations of his communities. With his focus always on improving on the quality of care and quality of life of his clients, his expertise will be valuable for his role at Sage. Alfredo earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a focus on Management from San Francisco State University.


circErin Tordsen, MAG

Director of Home Care Supervision
BS Psychology, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; MA Gerontology, San Francisco State University

Erin joins Sage with over five years of experience in eldercare. Erin has a Master’s degree in Gerontology from San Francisco State University and Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She has interned in the past with adult day care and with the San Francisco Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. She has also volunteered with hospice as both a patient care volunteer and administrative volunteer in the office. Erin has worked for the last few years with a home care agency where she assisted with the scheduling of care providers, provided oversight and supervision to the care providers, performed client visits and maintained regular communication with client’s responsible parties. Erin’s passion for eldercare stems from helping to care for her grandmother who lived with Alzheimer’s Disease for over 10 years and watching her mother care for aging family members.


circGilbert Rodriguez-Gallardo

PCA Manager

Gil, a seasoned PCA Manager with extensive experience in customer service and administrative roles, brings his expertise to Sage. Having joined the company in 2015, Gil hails from the Bay Area and now resides in Merced. Throughout his tenure with Sage HomeCare, Gil has evolved into an indispensable asset, establishing meaningful connections with Personal Care Attendants (PCAs), Care Managers, clients, family members and responsible parties. His passion and dedication to eldercare have been instrumental in his role as a PCA Manager. Gil’s unwavering commitment to precision and attention to detail align seamlessly with the values ingrained in the Sage culture. Furthermore, he takes a leadership role in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion as the head of our DEI Task Force, showcasing his commitment to holistic care and community engagement.


circJennifer Bolton

Jennifer BoltonPCA Manager
BA Sociology, Western Washington University

Jennifer joins Sage with over twenty-eight years of eldercare experience holding positions in management, activity programming, marketing and as executive director of an assisted living facility. Her work has included serving older adults residing in independent, assisted living and memory care settings. In her various roles, Jennifer’s favorite aspect has been being a resource for clients and their families during times of transition, and then developing long-term relationships. Jennifer has a BA in Sociology from Western Washington University where she focused her studies on adult development and aging.


circElla Bartels

PCA Manager
BA in Biology

Ella joins Sage with nine plus years of healthcare experience within long-term care settings and in-home care. Her most recent experience includes work in a memory care unit with older adults residing in a long-term care facility where she provided supervision to care providers and ensured quality care for residents. Dedicated to serving the older adults of her community, Ella successfully enhances their quality of life by cultivating positive relationships with clients and their families. Ella studied at The College of St. Scholastica in Minnesota where she graduated with a degree in biology as well as a minor in psychology.


circJohnell Davidson
PCA Manager
BA in Journalism & Media Studies

Johnell joins our team with several years of experience working with the aging community. Starting as a caregiver providing in-home care, she then gained experience as a home care manager and a placement specialist, offering resources and solutions to support the families she served. Prior to her work in healthcare, she worked in sales and business development at several startups in San Francisco. In addition, Johnell has been volunteering with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly since 2016 and joined their Board in 2020. If there is one thing that is constant with Johnell, it is her passion and commitment to enriching the lives of older adults through companionship, connection, and respect. Johnell graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies with a Political Science emphasis.


circKarla Velez
PCA Manager

Karla joins Sage with over 20 years of eldercare experience. Karla brings her dementia care skills as she worked for a dementia care specialist agency as a caregiver and in her latest role as an assistant care coordinator, where she worked closely with the care management team. Karla is passionate about serving older adults by enhancing their quality of life. She strives to cultivate positive relations with clients and families. Karla will be obtaining her degree in health administration with The University of Phoenix in 2024.


circRyan Klenk

Ryan KlenkRecruitment Specialist
BS in Business Marketing, California State University, Chico

Ryan began his career in recruiting in 2015 working with nurses and other healthcare workers within hospitals throughout the Bay Area, such as UCSF, Kaiser Permanente, John Muir and many more. He has since branched out recruiting within other fields and has now made his way to homecare. His passion for helping others find quality homecare assistance grew from witnessing his own family member enter the field in order to help a sick loved one. His goal is to find the most caring Personal Care Attendants who are passionate about helping provide quality of life assistance to those in need of help.


circRoey Baer

Roey BaerRecruitment Coordinator

Roey joined Sage with seven years of progressive experience within long-term care settings. She has worked at several skilled nursing facilities in the Bay Area. Her most rewarding experience was as an admissions manager with Covenant Care, where she provided above-and-beyond customer service as well as taking the facility to its first time capacity of one hundred percent. Roey has successfully worked with hospital case managers, physicians, conservators and families to qualify and transition patients into the skilled nursing setting. Her passion for helping others has kept her in the healthcare field. Roey attended California State University, East Bay.


circEm Lane

Personnel Manager

Em joined Sage with 5 years of combined healthcare and eldercare experience. She has worked in a variety of roles, including caregiver, activities director, back-office manager, and medication technician. She has a background in dementia care, having worked in a memory care unit at a facility as well as for a dementia care specialist agency as a caregiver. Em has a passion for increasing the holistic quality of life of all clients, using her background as an activities director to come up with creative solutions to any obstacle that may arise. She is a second-year electrical engineering student with Arizona State University.


circAlexus Lizama

Alexus Lizama

Personnel Manager
BS in Health Care Administration, Pima Medical Institute

Alexus joins Sage with 5 years of experience working in health care. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration at Pima Medical Institute while living in Texas. Alexus is working on a dual master’s degree – Master of Health Administration & Master of Business Administration at the University of Phoenix. She has staffing and scheduling experience in a Skilled Nursing setting and in Home Health. Alexus also has experience working in outpatient Physical Therapy as a Patient Care Coordinator and as a Claims Specialist processing Aetna Medicare claims. Throughout her roles, Alexus has always remained passionate about her work. She has brought forth the necessary skills to support productivity and efficiency in a busy health care environment. During her time working in elder care, it was there that she wanted to make a positive change. Alexus strives to promote growth, positivity, and quality of life to the senior community.


circShannon Rahin

Shannon Rahin

Personnel Manager

Shannon Rahin is the latest addition to our Sage family as a Home Care Personnel Manager. Shannon brings a powerful combination of personal experience and professional dedication. With a passion for helping others, She brings a unique blend of real-life caregiving experience, and has honed invaluable skills in customer service, demonstrating exceptional care, compassion, and dedication to providing top-tier service. Her journey into eldercare is deeply personal. Having served as both a caregiver and as someone seeking Eldercare for her father, Shannon intimately understands the challenges families and individuals face in Eldercare. This firsthand perspective, combined with a genuine passion fuels Shannon’s commitment to making a positive impact.


circAnnabelle Gray

Jeff AllgeierHuman Resource Coordinator

Annabelle comes to Sage with a background of over 20 + years of experience of administrative and customer service work. Her desire to help the elderly comes from her experience caring for her aging parents. She has become a valued member of the Sage Home Care team and has cultivated relationships with our team of Personal Care Attendants. While Annabelle is relatively new to the healthcare field, she has demonstrated a commitment to her job and to getting details right—which is a perfect fit for the Sage Eldercare culture.

circJack Herndon, MBA

Jack HerndonManaging Partner
BA International Relations, Brown University; MBA, Stanford University

Jack has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, management and business development roles in companies ranging from Fortune 1000 organizations to start ups (both for-profit and not-for-profit). In his current role of Managing Partner of Sage Eldercare Solutions, Jack has led the introduction and expansion of the concierge home care practice which today employs over 100 team members. Previously Jack taught care managers through the University of Florida certificate program (Ethical, Legal and Business Aspects of GCM) and is co-author of the chapter in the Geriatric Care Manager Handbook titled, “Adding GCM to a Home Care Agency.” He is a founding board member and former Treasurer of the San Francisco Village (www.SFVillage.org). He authored and published The Hospital Discharge Organizer and has led numerous workshops for families navigating the eldercare maze. Jack earned his BA from Brown University and his MBA from Stanford University.


circJeff Allgeier

People Operations Lead
BS Kinesiology, University of North Texas

Jeff joins Sage with over seven years of healthcare experience. Jeff has worked in staffing and client services roles across a variety of settings. These settings include inpatient rehab and Acute therapy needs within the hospital. Jeff also staffed for an ABA agency which conducted in-home and clinic based therapy for children on the Autism spectrum. He is passionate about taking a client-centered approach to his work. This includes matching quality care providers to meet the clients individual needs. Jeff earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, with a teaching certification for PE grades K-12, and a minor in Social Sciences.


circMichelle Leung, DC

Michelle LeungOffice Manager
DC*, Life West College

Michelle brings over 10 years experience as an office manager for various health care offices as well as five years in clinical practice as an alternative health care professional. She has been involved in many community outreach programs and was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the California State Assembly for her volunteer work. Michelle has been with Sage Eldercare Solutions since 2008 helping clients and their families in the administration of services and has been integral to Sage’s continued growth.
* Doctor of Chiropractic


circEren Arellano

Eren ArellanoClient Services Coordinator

Eren discovered her passion for the geriatric population while working in senior living communities. During her 10 years of experience in this field, she has worked as a Business Office Manager, where she enjoyed supporting the staff, residents, and their loved ones. Eren is always willing to go above and beyond to serve clients and resolve any concerns. Her goal is to fulfill the needs of clients and families with patience and understanding. Eren brings compassion and dedication to her work and works diligently to provide necessary resources and to continue to make a difference in the lives of those she supports.


circKatie Knutson

Katie KnutsonClient Services Coordinator
BA Family and Consumer Sciences, San Francisco State University

Katie joins Sage with many years of experience working directly with clients in social services. She was most recently employed for a mental health facility and loves helping make an impact in client’s lives by working with them to navigate life’s challenges and successes. Katie’s personal experience witnessing the quality care her own family members have received has led to her passion for the field of eldercare. It is her goal to provide exceptional care to both clients and their loved ones whom she serves.


circRaShawn McCraney

RaShawn McCraneyClient Services Coordinator

Rashawn joins Sage with a diverse background in the healthcare industry. Through his experience as an Office Manager, Small Cleaning Business Owner, and Caregiver, he has learned the importance of bringing joy and kindness to those in need. It is through his most recent experience as a caregiver that he found his calling for bringing this joy to the field of eldercare. His goal is to make a difference in the lives of every Sage client through his warm and caring nature.


circLaura Wood, BS

Laura WoodClient Services Coordinator
BS Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara

Laura joins the team with experience in the hospitality industry and educational background in psychology. Her personal experience with helping aging family members live a dignified and joyous life inspires her passion for the field of eldercare. Laura’s goal is to make an impact in the lives of clients and their families by honoring their individual needs and maintaining a standard of excellent, compassionate care.


circNatalie Wilson, CNA

 Natalie WilsonOn Call Client Services Coordinator

Natalie is a certified nursing assistant with experience working with older adults in assisted living, memory care, subacute and long-term care facilities. She has experience providing end of life care to hospice patients along with caring for older adults with a major neurocognitive disorder. She began her work with Sage as a Personal Care Attendant and her experiences in that role have helped her gain extensive knowledge of the struggles that older adults face at this stage in their lives, which helps her to truly understand them and form genuine connections. Natalie believes that independence is one of the most important things for older adults to have in order to live their happiest and healthiest lives, and prioritizes finding safe and effective ways to preserve it. Natalie’s goal is to foster positivity and face every situation with her clients from a compassionate and empathetic perspective using the most holistic approach possible.