SAGE was founded in 1994 by a group of individuals representing state and federal regulators, providers, geriatricians, nurses, architects, manufacturers, educators, and researchers.

The formation of SAGE was an outgrowth of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) sponsored “Clearing House on Aging and Environmental Design Codes.”  SAGE’s founding members began networking to bring about changes in regulatory design codes.

The founding members of SAGE represented the six states that comprise the Federal Health Care Finance Administration’s (HCFA) Region V:  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Essential to the philosophy of SAGE is to bring together various disciplines to identify common ground from which they can work towards better environments for older adults.  Government involvement is viewed as essential to its success so every effort is made to ensure their participation at all levels.

SAGE forums provide an opportunity to educate those who work in or on behalf of settings serving older adults about the need for changes in the regulatory system related to design of nursing homes.

SAGE began working to involve individuals at the state level by creating state chapters.  Wisconsin took the lead in creating an active state chapter offering statewide programs fostering the purpose and mission of SAGE.   State chapters now exist in Michigan, Ohio,  Indiana, Utah, and Kansas.