Legal Question in Criminal Law in Colorado

protection against false accusation of abuse

My mother is quite ill and has recently gone through a severe emotional event. What was once a loving relationship between herself and my father has recently deteriorated. Most nights, under the influence of alcohol and prescribed medication, she becomes physical - throwing furniture, hitting my father. On a couple of these occasions my father has restrained her causing bruising on his arms. She has also taken some falls while intoxicated producing more bruising. While I doubt my mother would accuse my father of abuse (although at this point I'm not sure) we are worried that someone will see this as evidence and my father will be arrested. He badly wants to get help for both of them and has even considered calling a social worker to the house but worries that as soon as they see the bruises he will be labeled as the abuser. Ironically, this all came to a head the evening after she saw a psychiatrist for the first time. We believe something happened in the session that ignited the problem. Her medical doctor refuses to talk with my father without her there - not even to give him advice. How does my father go about protecting himself legally while helping himself and my mother through this very difficult time?

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