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By: Cheyenne Taylor  Similarly to child abuse, we trust that our loved ones are safe in the hands of those closest to them; however, that is not always the case. Elder abuse can manifest in many ways, such as withholding food, not changing diapers, not bathing or showering, committing health care fraud, misusing funds, abandonment, or physical, sexual, and emotional violence1. This abuse can happen at the hands of a loved one, a hired caregiver, or even a stranger. It can occur in their home, a relative's, or a nursing home [1].
Warning Signs Include:
While some ailments might excuse these signs of abuse, they should be of concern if they come on suddenly or frequently without justifiable cause. It is critical to keep in contact with your elderly loved ones to be able to make note of these types of changes. Support victims of elder abuse by spreading awareness about this issue. If you have concerns about the care of an elderly loved one, talk with them and then report concerns to Adult Protective Services. If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, our agency can help you. To speak with a trained victim advocate, call our confidential crisis line at 317-731-6140. In the case of an emergency, call 9-1-1. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/elder-abuse/spotting-signs-elder-abuse  Our Chief Executive Officer was honored recently by the Benedict Inn Sisters of St. Benedict. All of us at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center are so grateful for Sandy’s leadership and are very proud that she was nominated and selected to receive this deserved award. She received the Angels of Grace – Angel Michael Award! In her speech at the awards luncheon to the hundreds of attendees, Sandy spoke with the spirit of our agency, she educated the room, moved those listening from laughter to tears, and shared about our ongoing and amazing innovative work serving victims of crime.
“I am honored to receive this recognition. Thank you for this kindness. Thank you to all the Benedictine Sisters for the generous work that you do every day. The Angel Michael Award – Defender of the dignity and goodness of others! Wow – that IS what I do – but certainly not alone – I may lead this organization, but it is full of individuals with servants' hearts, and they too are defenders alongside me! This job is hard, and it is so amazing to be recognized for it! Saving lives and improving the quality of life for so many is why we do what we do every day and that is so truly rewarding!” – Sandy Ziebold Photography by Montana Watson The first annual Give Abuse The Boot gala raised $33K dollars for Beacon of Hope Crisis Center held October 5th during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The Thursday evening event included a dinner and auction at Barn at Bay Horse Inn for 250 participants. The top raffle item, raising $2,100, was an amazing golf package consisting of a Solar Sources Golf Hat and Golf Polo, Golf Balls, Golf Towel, Ping 400 Custom Driver donated by Bunker Run Golf Course, and a $400 Value Course Play at Hillcrest Country Club Golf Course with Golf Carts included. Beacon of Hope’s Board Chair, Jackie Bowman Ponder, entertained the crowd and auctioned off a one-week Pensacola Florida Condo getaway donated by Mike McKinnon, David Yurman earrings donated by Reis Nichols-Greenwood and a Pacers package with winners choice of game night! The Give Abuse The Boot Gala hosted more than 250 guests and featured emcee Lauren Casey of WRTV6. Guests were entertained by “Tastes Like Chicken” Dance Band’s “Chicken Bone” performing acoustic pop rock in the saloon. The highlight of the evening was, Amy McInerny, a survivor who spoke about her featured art sculpture which she created as a part of her healing journey receiving services as a client at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. “We are truly blessed. The generosity of our guests is so appreciated. The support of all of our sponsors and the dedication of all our board members and volunteers is what made this first initial event such a success,” said Sandra Ziebold – CEO, Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. “We feel fortunate to be able to have these funds to better serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in our community. The funds will assist us with our focused advocacy services and growth in our Teen Talk Program for our Central Indiana youth; including increased collaborative work with college campus partners.” The Events Committee for Give Abuse The Boot wants to again give recognition to our sponsors which included, K-LOVE Radio, IndyVet Emergency and Specialty Hospital, Greg Hubler Chevrolet, Myers for Mayor, Indiana Originals, Bowman Family Holdings, Eagle Creek Animal Clinic, Republic National Distributing Company, Vino Villa, The Food Guys Catering Co., Spotlight Strategies, Qtego Auction Services and many generous corporate and individual table sponsors. By Sandra K. Ziebold
By Sandra K. Ziebold October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
There is a knot of fear that goes along with having experienced being a victim of a frequent, consistent and systematic pattern of domestic violence abuse. Domestic violence is about power and control. Abuse occurs when there is consistent unwanted dominance and control exerted over another. You may be in an intimate partner relationship and thinking to yourself, "What happened, I felt so wonderful and now I feel this horrible ache that won't leave the pit of my stomach. How did I get here and why do I feel so trapped? What can I do better? If I can do things better then he/she will, be okay / be calm / be happy." If you have thoughts like that, then stop for a second and really think about your thought pattern. Can you remember the last time you didn't have that aching knot of fear in your stomach? If you are constantly fearful that your every single breath or action is going to trigger anger and violence in another person exerting control over you, then our advocates can help you. It is domestic violence awareness month and you need to know that you are valued, there is a safe way to get out of your situation and you deserve a life free from the grip of domestic violence. We are here to help. Our crisis line number is (317)731-6140 |
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