Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Aegis Sandstrom is 4.19 out of 5, compared with 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 249 minutes against a 227-minute daily care target; RN time is 63 against 45.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Quality measures rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.06 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
58% positive in 2026, compared with 82% in 2025: 24 percentage points lower.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
67% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% across other homes.
Residents’ experience rating trails the national average
3 out of 5, compared with 3.62 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
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: 2026 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 2026 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 | 3.06 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.36% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.25% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.08% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.43% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.08% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.15% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.35% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.23% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Aegis Sandstrom provide?
In January to March 2026, Aegis Sandstrom reported 249 minutes of care per resident per day, 22 minutes above its target of 227 minutes. Of those minutes, 63 came from registered nurses, 18 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 45.
Aegis Sandstrom met both its total and registered-nurse targets in each of the last four quarters. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 249 to 271 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 179 minutes per resident per day, followed by registered nurses (63 minutes) and enrolled nurses (6 minutes). In the same quarter, Aegis Sandstrom also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does Aegis Sandstrom spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Aegis Sandstrom spent $313.19 per resident per day on care and nursing, 18% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $459.82 per resident per day. 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 ($53.58), cleaning and laundry ($25.67), and accommodation and maintenance ($20.90) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($142.52) and registered nurses ($99.83).
What do residents say about Aegis Sandstrom?
Asked in the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey whether staff follow up when they raise things, 67% of residents surveyed at Aegis Sandstrom answered “always” or “most of the time”, below the 84.2% average across other homes by 17.2 percentage points. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities (83% against 92.7%) and whether they feel safe (92% against 96.3%).
The largest gap above other homes was when residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing: 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 89.1%. In all, answers on 3 of the 10 questions other than food were at least 3 percentage points above the average for other homes.
What should you ask about on a visit?
A visit is a chance to ask about how the home records and follows up concerns. Of residents asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 42% answered “always”, 25% “most of the time” and 33% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents get the care they need?
Asked whether they get the care they need, 58% of residents surveyed at Aegis Sandstrom answered “always” and 33% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at Aegis Sandstrom?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 58% of residents surveyed at Aegis Sandstrom said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 9.3 percentage points below the average of 67.3% across other homes. The share fell from 82% in 2025. Another 25% answered “some of the time” and 17% “never”.
Food spending at Aegis Sandstrom in January to March 2026 was $18 per resident per day, 13% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.22 per resident per day, 21% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Aegis Sandstrom reports that breakfast, lunch and dinner are all cooked fresh. All meals are prepared on site.
Do residents enjoy the food?
Residents who answered “Always” or “Most of the time”.
58% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
