I handle my moms bills and finances. My brother lives with her because she feels sorry for him. She financially supports him 100% for the past 10 years. Nothing wrong with him except he’s lazy and is 57 yrs old. She’s 86 and thinks he’s wonderful, but she doesn’t trust him and is afraid of him. When I say something about him she starts saying ugly things about my grown children for no apparent reason. My whole life she has told little white lies. She is in her right mind and only thing wrong with her is she’s mean. Today as I was trying to leave she clawed my arm to the point I’m probably going to be scarred. What should I do?
My mother gouged me at one point and I do have a scar. It was tended to at the nurse’s station. But she had dementia and a UTI. What your mother did was assault and should be reported to the police.
You say nothing is wrong but meanness, did you call her out for physically attacking you? It is okay to tell her that you will not put yourself in danger and she either treats you with dignity and respect, as well as keeping her hands off you or she will be dealing with her son as sole contact.
By the way, that she has these fears and yet protects him, is a huge red flag, could this be a sign of elder abuse?
With the things you have told us, it is time for the authorities to get involved, she cannot make sound decisions anymore.
Keep those scratches clean, senior hygiene is such that you could potentially get a nasty infection from her finger nails.
Hugs, this is a tough situation you are facing.