A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who spent many years caring for others as a nurse was attacked while she slept at a care home in Woolston.

Monica Holt, from Lymm, was left with severe bruising and swelling on her face and body after she was assaulted twice within 30 minutes on the morning of Wednesday, December 13 at Heathercroft Care Home.

The family of the 98-year-old, who has lived at the care home on Longbarn Lane for around four years, were shocked when they discovered what had happened to the mum-of-two, who has three grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Care home bosses say they are taking the incident ‘very seriously’.

While the attack unfolded at 4am, the family claim they were not notified of the assault until eight hours later.

Grandson Lance Holt, 46, said: “I was disgusted as it’s on her file that I can be contacted 24 hours a day.

“When they called I was just told she had bruising to her face.

“When I saw her for the first time I was shocked.”

The family decided to share the photographs of the grandmother’s injuries with the public after being ‘disgusted’ by the response of the care home so far in the wake of the attack.

Posting on Facebook, he said: “This is my grandmother who is 98 years old.

“She is 99 in February and was attacked at 4am while asleep in her bed in the care home where she should have been safe.

“This was done by another male resident while she was asleep in her bed at 4am.

“If this wasn’t bad enough, for whatever reason the care home did not have measures in place to prevent a second attack 30 minutes later.

“May I also add that I have nothing but respect for the staff at Heathercroft as they have been fantastic.”

The Warrington Guardian has previously reported how the care home had been ordered to improve in December after inspectors found that a ‘significant’ shortage in staff had led to a number of failures following an inspection in August.

The Care Quality Commission, which regulates care homes, has been informed of the incident and advised Lance to contact the police.

A Cheshire Police spokesman confirmed they have received a report of an assault at the care home and investigations are ongoing.

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian, Lance added: “My grandmother knows what has happened but she is not in a state where she can sit there and have a conversation with you.

“She will gesture and she has shown me the punching movements to her face.”

The family, who sent a letter of complaint to the care home but have not yet received a reply, are now seeking legal action.

Lance, from Wirral, said: “It’s not about money and it’s not about compensation.

“She is 98 and I’m her power of attorney. She can’t fight for herself.

“She can’t even have a conversation

“If I don’t do anything then I won’t be doing her justice.

“It’s about fighting for what is right.

“There is no malice towards the gentleman. It’s not him – he probably didn’t have the mental capacity, but it’s the care home.

“For it to happen once is bad enough but not to have safeguarding in place to allow it to happen again is totally unacceptable. That’s the reason why I posted the photos.”

Nigel Denny, managing director of Ashberry Healthcare which is the company in charge of the care home, has confirmed that an investigation is under way.