A GRANDSON is elated that he will be able to visit his grandmother in a care home for her 101st birthday.

David Smith, 45, was delighted when his sister told him the news that they may be able to see their grandmother Ann on her birthday, and was even happier when the care home confirmed it would be possible.

Families of elderly care home residents, experts and 60 organisations had called for the government to allow visits, saying that they are 'essential' for mental health.

David said: "She's just a fantastic woman, she's like a second mum. We were able to see her in March and at some stages we weren't able to do that.

"There's not going to be many more opportunities at 101 that we are going to be able to see her."

Davids grandmother Ann Smith was born on November 25, 1919, was raised in Clayton-le-Moors and lived through the second world war.

Ann is now living in Henley House care home on Whalley Road in Accrington where she has been for the past three years.

Although David, his sister and his father will have to stand behind a window to see Ann, having not being able to do this since March still means the world they are able to see her in some way on her birthday.

"She's a strong lady," David added. "She had her 100th Birthday at Henley House last year and she looked very well. I think we will end up celebrating her 102nd she is doing that well."

During her life, Ann had two jobs, starting at Clayton Laundry and then moving to Alma Press printing works in Clayton-le-Moors.

Ann used to love going dancing at Vic and enjoyed holidays in the Isle of Man. She was married to her late husband Jimmy Smith and the oldest of five siblings.

On the government website, the guidance about care home visits says: "Care home providers, families and local professionals should work together to find the right balance between the benefits of visiting on wellbeing and quality of life, and the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to social care staff and vulnerable residents as we enter national restrictions.

"Providers are best placed to design individual visiting arrangements that take into account the needs of their residents and what is possible within the layout and facilities within the home.

"Providers should work collaboratively with residents, families and local social care and health professionals to strike a good balance between the benefits of visiting for residents’ health and wellbeing and quality of life; and the infection risks that arise from increased interactions of visitors, residents and staff in the facilitation of visiting.

"We will review our overall approach to care home visiting as national restrictions come to an end. We are continuing to work to increase our capacity to test visitors, and exploring the options that testing will provide to enable further visits."