Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Bentleys Aged Care is 4.37 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
Residents consistently describe respectful, caring staff
100% positive on respect and 100% on caring staff, versus 95.4% and 95.4% across other homes.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Following up concerns is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
69% positive in 2026, compared with 85% in 2025: 16 percentage points lower.
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
77% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 92.7% across other homes.
Fewer residents consistently feel safe
92% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.3% 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: 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 | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.35% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.25% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.08% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.08% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.14% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.34% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.20% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.72% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Bentleys Aged Care provide?
In January to March 2026, Bentleys Aged Care reported 239 minutes of care per resident per day, 39 minutes above its target of 200 minutes. Of those minutes, 51 came from registered nurses, 10 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 41.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 167 of the 239 minutes (69.9%), followed by registered nurses (51 minutes, 21.3%) and enrolled nurses (21 minutes, 8.8%). Bentleys Aged Care also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, and lifestyle and recreation workers in the same quarter.
What do residents say about Bentleys Aged Care?
When residents surveyed at Bentleys Aged Care for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, above the 84.2% average across other homes by 15.8 percentage points. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (100% against 87.1%) and whether staff explain things to them (92% against 80.2%).
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities: 77% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 92.7%. Altogether, answers on 2 of the 10 questions other than food were at least 3 percentage points below the average for other homes.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how residents have a say in daily activities. When residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 69% answered “always”, 8% “most of the time” and 23% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 69% of residents surveyed at Bentleys Aged Care answered “always” and 23% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 77% answered “always” and 23% “most of the time”.
How does Bentleys Aged Care spend on resident care?
Spending on care and nursing at Bentleys Aged Care in the 2024–25 financial year was $293.05 per resident per day, 11% above the sector median of $264.85. Total spending was $425.64 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 cleaning and laundry ($37.21), administration ($30.16), and accommodation and maintenance ($26.39) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($154.13) and registered nurses ($63.26).
What is the food like at Bentleys Aged Care?
When residents surveyed at Bentleys Aged Care for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 69% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 16 percentage points lower than the 85% recorded in 2025. Another 23% answered “some of the time” and 8% “never”.
Food spending at Bentleys Aged Care in January to March 2026 was $16 per resident per day, in line with the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, Bentleys Aged Care reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
Bentleys Aged Care 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”.
69% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
