Grandmother died 11 days after being attacked by fellow resident at Blackpool care home

Margaret Guest, 82, suffered facial injuries after an elderly man with dementia – who had moved in just two days before – lashed out at her.

She died 11 days after the assault from ‘lobar pneumonia following blunt force facial trauma’, an inquest into the former housewife’s death found.

Police officers launched an investigation at Gilwood Lodge in Clifton Drive, South Shore, but said the alleged attacker did not have the capacity to face charges.

Following a lengthy hearing lasting several days, a jury ruled there were failings at the man’s former residence, the Waterside Care Home.

The record of inquest, released by coroner Alan Wilson’s office, said his pain medication had been ‘insufficient’ and his dementia medication ‘inappropriately omitted.’

“There was a failure on the part of Waterside Care Home to implement his medication regime,” the jury said. “This gentleman’s aggression and agitation lead [sic] to his physical assault on Mrs Guest.

“There was a real and immediate risk of physical aggression on the part of this gentleman, but the risk was not managed adequately by Waterside Care Home, nor communicated to the registered manager of Gilwood Lodge.”

Mrs Guest, subject of a deprivation of liberty order, died in February 2016. The inquest was held in October last year.

Phil Padgett from Diamond Care Homes Group, which runs Waterside Care Home, on Queen’s Promenade in Bispham, said the home has ‘new leadership and has improved significantly’ since the hearing.

“Regular support and audit visits take place at least once a month,” he said.