Alzheimer's & Dementia Support
Along with other Indiana Area Agencies on Aging, LifeStream Services is participating in the state’s Dementia Care Specialist Program (DCSP).
Established through recent legislation, the DCSP aims to make Indiana a more dementia friendly and capable state by helping to improve the quality of life, care, and services for persons living with dementia.
LifeStream has two full-time Dementia Outreach Specialists (DOS) to support this work in our communities.
Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, and Randolph counties
Christy Davidson
765-759-1121 ext. 298
cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
Fayette, Franklin, Rush, Union, and Wayne counties
Kelly Smith
765-759-1121 ext. 297
kjsmith@lifestreaminc.org
As part of the Dementia Care Specialist Program, LifeStream’s Outreach Specialists will:
- Conduct education and outreach activities to increase community awareness of dementia and resources available to support individuals with dementia and their caregivers
- Provide training to staff, partners, and community members who interact with individuals living with dementia and their caregivers
- Establish relationships with health care providers, community-based organizations, and other partners to facilitate increased contact, communication, and
care coordination
Dementia Friends
The Dementia Friends Indiana initiative—an outreach of Dementia Friendly America®—seeks to educate communities across the state about dementia, break down the stigma surrounding dementia, and implement practical changes that make life easier to navigate for those with dementia and those who care for them.
What is a Dementia Friend? A Dementia Friend participates in a one-hour Dementia Friends information session offered by a Dementia Friends Champion or pair of Champions. A Dementia Friend learns five key messages about dementia and a bit about what it’s like to live with dementia. The Dementia Friend then turns their understanding into a practical action that can help someone with dementia living in their community. Their action can be as big or as small as they choose—every action counts.
Use the drop down menu below to find your local Dementia Friends Champions:
Senior Helpers of East Central Indiana
- 753 E. Water St., Pendleton, IN 46064
- Champions:
- Marta Guinn mguinn@seniorhelpers.com
- Nanci Perry nperry@yorktownindiana.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297 or kjsmith@lifestreaminc.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297 or kjsmith@lifestreaminc.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No Dementia Friends Champions in this county yet – interested in becoming a local Champion? Contact Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297 or kjsmith@lifestreaminc.org
Union County Health Department
- 6 W. South St., Liberty, IN 47353
- Champions:
- Beth Lang bethlang.uchd@gmail.com
- Kim Klein kklein@unioncountyin.us
The Leland Legacy
- 900 S. A St., Richmond, IN 47374
- Champions:
- Norene Groth ngroth@thelelandlegacy.com
- Lisa Jelly-May ljelly-may@thelelandlegacy.com
- Jessica Wade jwade@thelelandlegacy.com
Dementia Friendly Community
A Dementia Friendly Community in the US is a village, town, city, or county that is informed, safe, and respectful of individuals living with dementia, their families, and caregivers. It provides supportive options that foster quality of life. Communities that join Dementia Friendly America® are engaging in a process to become more dementia friendly, which includes offering dementia training, launching support groups, and providing education. The initiative aims to increase the strengths and fill gaps in support for people with dementia, ensuring they can live safely and independently in settings that promote their physical, mental, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual wellness.
Key goals among Dementia Friendly Communities include:
- Increasing awareness and understanding of dementia and people living with dementia
- Increasing awareness and understanding of brain health and risk reduction
- Collaborating with public, private, not-for-profit and health care sectors to better serve people living with dementia and care partners
- Addressing the changing needs of people with dementia and care partners
- Creating social and cultural environments that are welcoming to people living with dementia
- Improving the physical environment in public places and systems so that they are dementia friendly
Are you interested in becoming a Dementia Friendly organization? Reach out to Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297.
Dementia Live®
Dementia Live® is an experience that immerses participants into what life might be like to live with a cognitive impairment and sensory changes. Utilizing specialized gear that simulates dementia specific sensory changes that occur in those living with dementia, this safe experience is a powerful and effective tool to strengthen the participant’s understanding of, and empathy for, people living with dementia. Gaining a first-hand understanding of anxiety, isolation, frustration, confusion, and more, Dementia Live® uniquely walks participants from the “AHA” moment to empowering participants with tools to improve communication, care processes, relationship building, and the environment.
Join us in creating a more compassionate community for individuals living with dementia. LifeStream Services invites you to experience this transformative training and become part of a growing movement dedicated to understanding, empathy, and improved quality of life.
For more information or to schedule a Dementia Live® session for individuals and organizations, contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297.
See below for a list of Dementia Live® partner locations throughout our 12-county service area:
The Woodlands
- 3820 W. Jackson St., Muncie, IN 47304
- Contact: (765) 289-3451 or Kevin_Spaugh@lcca.com
Grace Baptist Church
- 6401 W. River Rd., Muncie, IN 47304
- Contact: (765) 288-9569 or prbond19@gmail.com
Majestic Care of Connersville
- 1029 E. 5th St., Connersville, IN 47331
- Contact: ss.connersville@majesticcare.com or mcf.connersville@majesticcare.com
Caroleton Healthcare
- 2500 Iowa Ave., Connersville, IN 47331
- Contact: (765) 825-7514 or Valarie.King@chs-corp.com
No locations yet – interested in becoming a partner location? Contact Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297 or kjsmith@lifestreaminc.org
No locations yet – interested in becoming a partner location? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No locations yet – interested in becoming a partner location? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
Purdue – Jay County
- 126 N. Meridian St., Portland, IN 47371
- Contact: (260) 726-4707 or addrees@purdue.edu
No locations yet – interested in becoming a partner location? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No locations yet – interested in becoming a partner location? Contact Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or cdavidson@lifestreaminc.org
No locations yet – interested in becoming a partner location? Contact Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297 or kjsmith@lifestreaminc.org
Union County Health Department
- 6 W. South St., Liberty, IN 47353
- Contact: kklein@unioncountyin.us or bethlang.uchd@gmail.com
Southview Courts
- 615 W. High St., Liberty, IN 47353
- Contact: (765) 458-5550 or cornettjenny_ucaa@yahoo.com
Richmond Senior Recreation Center
- 1600 S. 2nd St., Richmond, IN 47374
- Contact: (765) 983-7300 or rthompson@richmondindiana.gov
Brickyard Golden Rule
- 2330 Straightline Pike, Richmond, IN 47374
- Contact (765) 966-7681 or Bowling@brickyardhc.com
Synergy Home Care
- 1605 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN 4737
- Contact: (765) 939-2818 or lizdriver@synergyhomecare.com
Rosebud Village
- 2050 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN 47374
- Contact: (765) 935-4440 or KariAlcorn@ASCCare.com
Neighborhood Health Center
- 808 S. A St., Richmond, IN 47374
- Contact: (765) 598-4300 or Megan.Brown@neighborhoodhc.org
The Leland Legacy
- 900 S. A St., Richmond, IN 47374
- Contact: (765) 939-6500 or ngroth@thelelandlegacy.com, ljelly-may@thelelandlegacy.com, jwade@thelelandlegacy.com
Help at Home
- 650 Progress Dr., Richmond, IN 47374
- Contact: (765) 935-9101 or bnhill@helpathome.com
Memory Screenings
LifeStream Services is proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to provide free, confidential memory screenings to older adults in our community. As your trusted Area Agency on Aging, LifeStream is committed to supporting healthy aging, empowering individuals, and providing access to essential resources for older adults and their families.
Memory screenings are a quick, noninvasive way to evaluate memory and other cognitive functions. While these screenings are not a diagnosis, they can identify early signs of memory issues that may need further medical attention. Early detection gives individuals and families more time to plan, access care, and take proactive steps to support brain health.
At LifeStream, our goal is to make memory screenings accessible, comfortable, and stigma-free. Screenings are conducted one-on-one by our trained Dementia Outreach Specialists in a confidential setting. Whether you’ve noticed changes in memory, have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, or simply want to be proactive about your cognitive health, we invite you to take advantage of this free service.
Even without current symptoms, memory screenings can help establish a baseline to monitor changes over time. Regular screenings are an important part of maintaining brain health as we age.
Appointments are available by calling Christy Davidson at (765) 759-1121 ext. 298 or Kelly Smith at (765) 759-1121 ext. 297. Don’t wait—schedule your free memory screening today and take a meaningful step toward protecting your cognitive wellness.
Together, LifeStream and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America are working to promote early detection, support brain health, and provide compassionate care to those impacted by memory loss.
Education
Dementia Friends K–12 education introduces young people to the topic of dementia through age-appropriate resources and school-based programs. These initiatives are designed for students with no prior knowledge, working toward fostering empathy, understanding, and community support.
The Dementia Awareness Schools Pack is a key resource tailored for upper primary and lower secondary students. This pack helps students understand what dementia is, how it affects people, and how they can contribute to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment.
By engaging students early, these programs aim to build a more dementia-friendly future, one generation at a time.
Events & Local Resources
Visit our event calendar below to find local events in your area!
Dementia Friends Information Session
The Dementia Friends Indiana initiative—an outreach of Dementia Friendly America®—seeks to educate communities across the state about dementia, break down the stigma surrounding dementia, and implement practical changes that make life easier to navigate for those with dementia and those who care for them. This session is great for any community member, community group, business, or organization that is interested in making their community friendlier and more conducive for those living with dementia. This session can also serve as a helpful resource for anyone who is helping care for someone living with dementia.
We meet via Zoom on the second Tuesday of the month from 12pm to 1pm.
Dementia Friendly Resource Cards
Check out our Dementia Friendly Resource Cards below for tips on how to best handle situations from natural disasters to safe home decor for individuals living with dementia.
