Mother hitting staff in care home

[DeerWatch]

I am very low contact with my mother because of her abuse towards me and my father. She has capacity and was diagnosed two years ago with a personality disorder.
Been in care home since February but chose to move to another in September. I have now heard that she has hit a member of staff with an object and has now returned to first care home so I guess she was asked to leave.
What happens if they can no longer cope with her? This is not a one off as when in respite two years ago she lashed out at staff and also did at home she has just gone back to.

What happens if they can no longer cope with her? She is self funding.

Are you sure she has capacity if she is hitting people? My Uncle used to hit people in his care home but he didn't have capacity and was sectioned. I'm not sure if they would section her if she has capacity and is hitting people on purpose.

She has had two capacity tests this year as she changed her Will twice. The psychiatrist who diagnosed her with a personality disorder last year said she had full capacity and knows what she is doing and it isn't dementia. She has always been a very cruel person, attacked my father on several occassions but he still worships her sadly. He is in a care home too.

Oh my goodness. I'm not alone.

My mum also has capacity, and physically assaults her carers. She's in a lot of pain, and says she 'can't help it' because when they handle her it causes her pain. But it's not justifiable, and given that she's also verbally abusive to them, I'm far from convinced about it being out of her control.

I keep waiting for her to get thrown out, but it's not happened yet.

Yes, my mum also has form. My childhood was not a happy one.

many people have capacity and hit others. The home should have clear policies on dealing with this sort of thing, after all there is legislation about workers right to a safe working environment. A risk assessment for her, a specific care plan for her, staff trained in deescalation, safeguarding, reporting, first aid. The second home may have failed to find staff willing to work with her? Low wage, higher risk is a poor combo.

What happens if they can no longer cope with her? She is self funding

If she hits staff and there is no capacity issues around this to explain her behaviour then she potentially ends up in the criminal justice system. More older adults in care homes than people would expect commit crimes against others and care homes are encouraged to report incidents to the police.

alternatively the care home could put risk measures in place such as 2:1 staffing and charge her for the extra care she needs to keep their staff safe - she could leave and find somewhere else if she didn't agree.

Care homes can also give her notice if she breaks their rules, she would have to find another one if they did.

Agree with hatgirl, a victim of her assaults could report her to the police - sounds like they should quite frankly!

If she has capacity & is assaulting staff then they should be contacting police & getting her charged.

Capacity is specific to the question, check what she was assessed for. If it's financial only it doesn't apply to other things.

If she needs care, she will get it. I say that as someone who has been assaulted by more than my fair share of patients due to the area I work in.