At a bail hearing in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, the court heard the alleged victim, 82, fell and required emergency surgery to a broken hip.

Police will allege a 34 year old Lyneham woman approached the service counter at Dickson Woolworths on Wednesday but became agitated when did not have enough money to pay for cigarettes.

Court documents say that when the alleged victim approached the counter next to her the older woman told the younger woman to stop swearing.

The woman is alleged to have then pushed the 82 year old, who was unable to defend herself with her hands resting on the counter.

The woman left the supermarket but was later identified on surveillance footage.

During Friday's hearing the woman spoke from the bar table saying the allegations were not true.

"She ran up to me," she said. "I was scared."

There was evidence before the court that she suffers from bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy and has an acquired brain injury as a result of seizures.

But Magistrate Peter Morrison said while there were efforts to get the accused woman treatment and support, none of what he heard had ameliorated the risk she posed because of her alleged violent outbursts.

He refused the 34-year-old Lyneham woman bail.

From the public gallery the woman's mother stood and said the alleged assault would not have happened if her daughter had received appropriate treatment for her mental health.

"Something should have been done before this," the mother said.

The woman is charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm but did not enter pleas.

The case will reappear in court at a later date.