How to legally protect myself from angry/violent elderly mom?

I went to write EXACTLY what Alva said about the verbal agreement being worthless.

OK, you put your whole life on hold for 2 people who obviously don't care and are abusive to boot.

Make a list:
Get a job.
QUIT putting up with their crap. If it means staying somewhere else--do you have somewhere else to go?
Learn to not instigate fights---they are completely pointless. Learn to walk out. Keep a small overnight bag handy for just such an occasion.

Walk out and stay out.
Yes, you will probably have to go 'legal' on them and that is sad and will not result in anyone turning cartwheels for joy.

I recently 'divorced' my MIL (9 months ago) and it has been HARD on my DH, he keeps begging me to come back with him to see his mom. I will not, ever again. Yes, the family thinks I'm being a total princess, but I'm done with her. Recently. DH got an earful from his mom about ME, expecting him to side with her--she really wants us to divorce, after 45 years, that ain't happening.

People who abuse the CG's in their lives are shooting themselves in the foot.

Dh is supportive of his sis, who is an angel---but he can't actually be in the same room as MIL, she has totally ruined that relationship. He is struggling with guilt, but holding firm to his decision to step out.

An oral agreement in a case like this is worth only the paper it is written on. That is to say it is worth nothing.
I warn over and over again on Forum, that leaving a job, moving in with your parent, and doing caregiving will leave you eventually and in one way or another jobless and homeless with no work history.
There is absolutely nothing you can do but move, get your own place (hopefully at some point you WERE paid and you did save money) and get a job and a life; your father will be left in care of his wife, and can proceed as he sees fit.
In future know that oral contracts are not enough. Especially in the case of adult parents it can come to look like abuse, your taking their money. Income must be carefully documented and reported to the IRS so that if the parent in future needs care, as is going to be the case for your Mom, they can get medicaid without being stopped by having "gifted" money to one of their children (how this would be seen without a care contract and your reporting your income to the IRS).
It is an unhappy circumstance for you, but a lesson for others. Time to leave the nest again, and the way this is proceeding sounds as though you are the lucky one to have that choice. Wishing you good luck. If you find another way hope you will let us know what that might be.

The oral contract is useless. It may have met the requirements of a contract at the time but your parents will deny they ever made such an agreement. What a mess you've created for yourself. I would suggest finding yourself another job and moving to an aprtment asap.

With all respect and sympathy, the huge mess of a problem began when you made the rash decision to leave your job(s), sell your belongings, and move in with in them to be their caretaker.

What was your side of the oral contract? The reason I ask is so that we have some idea of what your parents' care needs are.

It would also be helpful if you could share a rough, approximate (i.e. non-identifiable) description of where, what sort of place you're all living in. Rural or town? What state? Then perhaps we can help you find practical options.

This a suggestion that others may disagree with. If you feel that you are going to be forced out, contact APS (Adult Protection Service?) to say that if you go, your parents will be in danger because their care will not be adequate. Alternatively tell your mother (and father) that that’s what you will do. Tell them that if APS thinks they can’t cope on their own, they may get a Court appointed guardian appointed, who will make the decisions for them about what care they need. No-one who cares about them will have any say at all.

Alternatively, perhaps the best option is to quit while you’re ahead, leave them and go back to where you were before. You will have lost a lot, but it could get even worse.

More information would help. Are there any other family members involved? Is it possible for you to go back to where you were? Is this totally new behavior from your mother/ parents, or is it more of the same old same old only worse? Where is your father at – worse than mother or better? Can he stand up for you?

If this is really dangerous for you, legally or financially, you need to get out of it as soon as you can.

"Anyone know what I can do?"

I hope you realize by now that it was the wrong move to quit your job and move in with your parents. You need to NOT rely on them for food and shelter. It's a recipe for disaster. That's the first thing.

Second, find a job and move out.

Third, call the local Area Agency for Aging to ask for help for your parents.

If you live in their home they would need to evict you for failure to pay rent. If they call police reporting any false abuse, this could be an issue but YOU will need to call 911 if they get physical with you.

I wish you would provide some more info, like what state you're in, how old your parents are and whether they have been diagnosed with dementia (and any other physical/medical/health issues. If you do not have durable PoA for them it will become increasingly difficult to legally care for them. If you need help in caring form the you can contact social services to see if they qualify for any in-home help from the county. Eventually the county will get guardianship of them if you don't have PoA. The county takes over all their care, will move them into a facility and will take over all their assets.

With no written contract I don't know if you have any legal recourse to recoup funds. Do you have anything they wrote to you, in a text or email, that references the arrangement? Do you have any siblings or relatives who might have heard this being discussed? If so I'd take any evidence to an attorney. This of course means you will be suing them for the promised compensation and you will need to couch camp at a friend's home until you're reestablished. I wish you success.