Dementia Care Specialist Program

Dementia Care Specialist Program

The DCSP was created to accomplish key aspects of the Dementia Strategic Plan that are outlined in code. In 2023, the Dementia Care Specialist Program was established to improve Indiana’s dementia-related population’s health outcomes, the DCSP supports Indiana’s transformation into a dementia-capable state equipped with dementia-capable care and services for all Hoosiers.

Indiana Code 12-9.1-5

Under Indiana Code (IC) 12-9.1-5, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Aging is required to develop a DSP to identify and significantly reduce the prevalence of dementia in Indiana.

As outlined in the Code, the DSP must do the following:

1. Assess Indiana’s current and future status concerning dementia
2. Identify strategies to increase awareness of dementia
3. Identify strategies to enhance Indiana's dementia-based workforce
4. Identify strategies to increase access to home and community-based services for individuals with dementia
5. Identify strategies to enhance the quality of care for individuals with dementia
6. Recommend strategies to decrease health disparities concerning dementia
7. Identify and increase state-based support for Alzheimer's disease research
8. Identify needed state policies or actions to act upon findings

Indiana's Area Agencies on Aging Involvement

In 2023, this program was codified in Indiana State Code 12-10-5.7), tasking Indiana's Area Agencies on Aging also known as the AAAs, with putting the goals of the DCSP into action. The AAAs provide case management, information and referrals to various services for the aging and developmentally disabled populations in our state. Through the Dementia Care Specialist Program, the AAAs are also working to improve Indiana’s dementia-related population’s health outcomes. The DCSP is meant to increase community awareness of dementia resources and expand the infrastructure and capacity of our state to prevent and address the complex needs of Hoosiers with dementia and their care partners. This program is completely education and outreach based.

Dementia Outreach Specialists

1. CoAction
   5240 Fountain Drive
   Crown Point, IN 46307
   219-794-1829 or 800-826-7871
   TTY: 888-814-7597; FAX: 219-794-1860
   Covers Lake, Porter, Jasper, Newton, Pulaski and Starke counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Maria Cubero Ph: 219-329-1457 Email:  mcubero@coaction.care

2. REAL Services, Inc.
   1151 S. Michigan St.
   South Bend, IN 46601-3427
   574-284-2644 or 800-552-7928; FAX: 574-284-2642
   Covers Elkhart, LaPorte, Kosciusko, Marshall and St. Joseph counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Judy Riboni Ph: 574-381-8984 Email:  judy.riboni@realservices.org

3. Aging and In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, Inc.
   8101 W. Jefferson Blvd.
   Fort Wayne, IN 46804
   260-745-1200 or 800-552-3662
   FAX: 260-422-4916 E-mail: info@agingihs.org
   Covers Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Todd Hunnicutt Ph: 260-745-1200 Email:  thunnicutt@agingihs.org

4. Area IV Agency on Aging & Community Action Programs, Inc.
   660 N. 36th St.
   Lafayette, IN 47903-4727
   765-447-7683
   TDD: 765-447-3307; FAX 765-447-6862
   Email: info@areaivagency.org
   Covers Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Warren and White counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Saedie Spikes Ph: 765-447-7683 ext. 291 Email:  sspikes@areaivagency.org

5. Area Five Agency on Aging & Community Services, Inc.
   1801 Smith St., Suite 300
   Logansport, IN 46947-1577
   574-722-4451 or 800-654-9421; FAX 574-722-3447
   Email: areafive@areafive.com
   Covers Fulton, Cass, Miami, Wabash, Howard, and Tipton counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Eric Mejia Ph: 574-722-4451 ext. 1221 Email:  emejia@areafive.com

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Angie Benitez Ph: 574-722-4451 Email:  abenitez@areafive.com

6. LifeStream Services, Inc.
   1701 Pilgrim Blvd.
   Yorktown, IN 47396-0308
   765-759-1121 or 800-589-1121
   TDY: 866-801-6606; FAX 765-759-0060
   Email: i&a@lifestreaminc.org
   Covers Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison and Randolph counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Christy Davidson Ph: 765-759-1121 Ext. 298 Email:  cdavidson@LifeStreaminc.org

7. Thrive West Central
   2800 Poplar St., Suite 9A
   Terre Haute, IN 47803
   812-238-1561 or 800-489-1561
   TDD: 800-489-1561; FAX 812-238-1564
   Covers Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Amy Schorr Ph: 812-238-1561 x 260 Email:  aschorr@thrivewestcentral.com

8. CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions
   8440 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Ste. 175
   Indianapolis, IN 46240-4359
   317-254-5465 or 800-432-2422
   FAX: 317-254-5494; TDD: 317-254-5497
   Covers Marion, Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan and Hendricks counties

   Dementia Outreach Specialist: Holly Hess Ph: 317-803-6334 Email:  hhess@cicoa.org

9. LifeStream Services, Inc.
   2404 National Road W
   Richmond, IN 47374
   Phone: 765-966-1795 or 800-589-1121
   FAX: 765-759-1121
   Email: i&a@lifestreaminc.org
   Covers Fayette, Rush, Franklin, Union and Wayne counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Kelly J. Smith Ph: 765-639-2025 Email:  kjsmith@LifeStreaminc.org

10. Area 10 Agency on Aging
631 W. Edgewood Drive
Ellettsville, IN 47429
812-876-3383 or 800-844-1010
FAX: 812-876-9922
Covers Monroe and Owen counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Amy Guerrettaz Ph: 812-935-2582 Email:  aguerrettaz@area10agency.org

11. Thrive Alliance
2158 Cottage Ave
Columbus, IN 47201
812-372-6918 or 866-644-6407
FAX: 812-372-7846
Covers Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Jane Ferril Ph: 812-372-6918 Ext 2402 Email:  JFerril@thrive-alliance.org

Tonya Carlock | Phone: 812-372-6918 Ext. 2404 | Email: tcarlock@thrive-alliance.org

12. LifeTime Resources, Inc.
13091 Benedict Drive
Dillsboro, IN 47018
812-432-6200 or 800-742-5001; FAX: 812-432-3822
Email: contactltr@lifetime-resources.org
Covers Dearborn, Jefferson, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Sarah Middaugh Ph: 812-432-6237 Email:  smiddaugh@lifetime-resources.org

13. Generations Vincennes University Statewide Services
1019 N. 4th St.
Vincennes, IN 47591
812-888-5880 or 800-742-9002
FAX: 812-888-4566
Email: generations@vinu.edu
Covers Daviess, Dubois, Knox, Greene, Martin and Pike counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Brenda Hancock Ph: 812-888-5146 Email:  bhancock@vinu.edu

14. Lifespan Resources, Inc.
33 State St., Third Floor
New Albany, IN 47151-0995
812-948-8330 or 888-948-8330
TTY: 812-542-6895; FAX: 812-206-7991
Covers Clark, Floyd, Harrison and Scott counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Angelia Reedus Ph: 812-206-7902 Email:  areedus@lsr14.org

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Jamie Fried Ph: 812-670-3942 Email:  jfried@lsr14.org

15. Hoosier Uplands/Public Service Area 15 Agency on Aging and Disability Services
521 W. Main St.
Mitchell, IN 47446
812-849-4457 or 800-333-2451
TDD: 800-473-3333; FAX: 812-849-4467
Email: area15@hoosieruplands.org
Covers Crawford, Lawrence, Orange and Washington counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Marissa Cox Ph: 812-849-4457 Email:  mcox@hoosieruplands.org

16. SWIRCA & More
16 W. Virginia St.
Evansville, IN 47737-3938
812-464-7800 or 800-253-2188
FAX: 812-464-7843 or 812-464-7811
Email: swirca@swirca.org
Covers Gibson, Perry, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties

Dementia Outreach Specialist: Rhonda Walsh Ph: 812-459-0781 Email:  rwalsh@swirca.org

Resources

Dementia Strategic Plan Annual Report

Executive Summary | 2025 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

Dementia Strategic Plan

Alzheimer's Association 2025 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures