NSW cleaner charged after 92yo stabbed

A 92-year-old woman is in hospital with stab wounds and head fractures after she was allegedly viciously attacked by her cleaner in her own Sydney home.

A female cleaner has spent the night behind bars after she allegedly stabbed a 92-year-old woman three times in her Sydney home.

Hanny Papanicolaou, 35, has been charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after the alleged attack at the elderly woman's Ashbury home on Wednesday morning.

Emergency services were called after a personal panic alarm was activated and discovered the elderly mother - who lives at the address alone - bleeding heavily from her scalp and abdomen, police said.

The victim was conscious at the time and provided police with "invaluable" information, Superintendent David Johnson said.

The 92-year-old was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition and underwent emergency surgery for face and body injuries including several stab wounds.

She was stabbed three times with a knife, court documents state. As of Thursday afternoon she was in an induced coma and required further surgery.

Papanicolaou, who police believe was working as a cleaner at the home, was subsequently arrested in Illawong.

Supt Johnson said it's unclear what the attacker's motive was but described it as a one-off incident.

He said Papanicolaou had been employed by her alleged victim for about 12 months.

Papanicolaou will remain behind bars for at least a week but on Thursday at Parramatta Local Court indicated she would seek bail during her next court appearance at Burwood Local Court on January 9.