Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA is 3.82 out of 5, against a national average of 3.81. Three findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 232 minutes against a 229-minute daily care target; RN time is 47 against 46.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Kind and caring staff is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.0% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
46% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 81.8% across other homes.
How well the home is run is below the survey average
61% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.3% across other homes.
Enjoying the food is below the survey average
46% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 70.3% across other homes.
Sources and Explanation
This is a programmatic interpretation of published data, not an in-person inspection or a separate expert-assigned score. The figures are the Elderberry Index and its four government component ratings; a measure the home has no published rating for is left out. Our rating methodology.
Ratings: August 2026. Survey comparisons: 2025 interview responses from that extract. Other Australian homes in the same ratings extract; survey comparisons also require the same interview year. Each eligible home has equal weight; missing/invalid values excluded. These are descriptive comparisons, not resident-weighted or adjusted for differences in care needs.
How findings are selected
Survey gaps of at least 3 percentage points, rating gaps of at least 0.3 stars, and changes of at least 10 percentage points can qualify. These are editorial selection thresholds, not tests of statistical significance. Benchmarks need at least 30 homes. Each side shows up to three eligible findings; missing values never become negative findings. Specific combined food evidence and sustained care-target results are prioritised, then larger differences. Respect and caring are grouped when both qualify.
Food spending uses the My Aged Care sector median for Jan–Mar 2026; resident enjoyment comes from the 2025 survey. The combined finding reports two separate observations from different reporting periods; it does not establish that spending caused the survey result. Year-to-year survey samples may differ and respondent counts are unavailable. Care consistency uses the latest four submitted, quality-checked care-minute records and direct RN minutes without EN top-up.
A lower compliance rating is a comparison with other homes, not a claim of an active sanction. Higher expenditure alone is not treated as better care. Unadjusted clinical incident measures are not used to rank quality here.
My Aged Care home profile · Government Star Ratings extract
Benchmark populations
| Measure | Mean | Other homes |
|---|---|---|
| Elderberry Index | 3.81 | 2365 |
| Residents’ experience | 3.62 | 2434 |
| Compliance | 4.83 | 2395 |
| Staffing | 3.18 | 2454 |
| Quality measures | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.86% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.46% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.35% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.49% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.49% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.61% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.84% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.28% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.20% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.20% | 1354 |
What do residents say about ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 46% of residents surveyed at ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff explain things to them, 35.8 percentage points below the average of 81.8% across other homes. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether the home is well run (61% against 89.3%) and whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (69% against 88.6%).
The largest gap above other homes was when residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring: 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 96.0%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how staff explain changes to care. Of residents asked whether staff explain things to them, 23% answered “always”, 23% “most of the time”, 46% “some of the time” and 8% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA were asked whether they feel safe, 77% answered “always” and 8% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 38% answered “always” and 38% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA?
When residents surveyed at ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 46% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 24.3 percentage points below the average of 70.3% across other homes. The share fell from 69% in 2024. Another 31% answered “some of the time” and 23% “never”.
In January to March 2026, ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA spent $18 per resident per day on food, 13% above the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.96 per resident per day, 243% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA reports that breakfast is cooked fresh, while lunch and dinner are prepared by the cook-chill method. Of all meals, 41% are prepared on site and the rest off site.
Do residents enjoy the food?
Residents who answered “Always” or “Most of the time”.
46% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How much care and nursing does ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA provide?
ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA reported 232 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 3 minutes above its target of 229 minutes. Of those minutes, 47 came from registered nurses, 1 minute above the registered-nurse target of 46.
ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA met both its total and registered-nurse targets in each of the last four quarters. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 225 to 232.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 149 minutes, followed by registered nurses (47 minutes) and enrolled nurses (37 minutes). In the same quarter, ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA also reported spending on physiotherapists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, ACH Group Residential Care - ViTA spent $455.64 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 58.6% of it. Care and nursing spending of $266.98 was 1% above the sector median of $264.85. These amounts are the home’s costs, not the fees a resident pays.
Where does the rest of the spending go?
Other categories included administration ($66.42), accommodation and maintenance ($42.01), and cleaning and laundry ($35.39) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($128.58) and registered nurses ($38.32).
