East Central Indiana

Tia Drumm is a Caregiver Programs Coordinator at Lifestream Services Inc. Tia covers Area 6 which includes Delaware, Madison, Grant, Randolph, Henry, Blackford and Jay Counties.

Tia received her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license her junior year of high school. This license led her to work in skilled nursing facilities and assisted livings. Tia explains; “Seeing the various parts of the team, I then decided I wanted to become a Qualified Medication Aide. (QMA) Upon receiving this, I received an offer to scribe for a psychiatrist who worked specifically on dementia.” Tia left that position due to COVID-19, and started as a Medical Assistant (MA) in a Neurology practice. Tia says; “Here I learned how dementia is diagnosed, what medications help and how, and countless other things. When I decided it was time for a change, I set out on the new adventure of finding my niche. I took the position of Care Coach, meeting with family care partners to address their stress related to the dementia diagnosis of a loved one and worked this position for almost two years before I was promoted to Caregiver Programs Coordinator!”

“My connection with dementia is both professional and personal. I have worked with people living with dementia since getting my CNA license in a skilled setting, but when dementia became a regular word at my house it was a little different. Both of my grandmothers have been diagnosed with dementia, and I have sadly lost one of my grandmothers to this disease.”

“Through this work I am proud to not only be able to educate the public about dementia, but reducing the stigma around the conversation of dementia. I feel, in my multiple conversations with care partners, that dementia is a conversation subject that is usually shied from. I am proud that I am able to make a difference in the lives of care partners giving them resources that are both adequate and accessible.”

“I am also a book worm! I listen to books while I work, and read if I am not playing with one of my kids, or working on school work. I enjoy creating pages in my positivity journal, baking (though I’m not great at it! HA!), painting and hiking!”