Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Calvary Sandhurst is 3.41 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
Residents consistently describe respectful, caring staff
100% positive on respect and 100% on caring staff, versus 95.4% and 95.4% across other homes.
Enjoying the food is above the survey average
83% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.3% across other homes.
Residents’ experience rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.62 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Staffing rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Compliance rating trails the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 4.83 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
75% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% 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 | 96.24% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.08% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.09% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.16% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.32% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.22% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
What is the food like at Calvary Sandhurst?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 83% of residents surveyed at Calvary Sandhurst said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 15.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. Another 17% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
Food spending at Calvary Sandhurst in January to March 2026 was $15 per resident per day, 6% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, Calvary Sandhurst reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
According to Calvary Sandhurst, 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”.
83% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
What do residents say about Calvary Sandhurst?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 100% of residents surveyed at Calvary Sandhurst answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether they get the care they need, 5.6 percentage points above the average of 94.4% across other homes. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff treat them with respect (100% against 95.4%) and whether staff are kind and caring (100% against 95.4%).
The widest gap below other homes came when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things: 75% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 84.2%. In all, answers on 3 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?
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, 58% answered “always”, 17% “most of the time” and 25% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe?
When residents surveyed at Calvary Sandhurst were asked whether they feel safe, 83% answered “always” and 17% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Calvary Sandhurst provide?
In January to March 2026, Calvary Sandhurst reported 221 minutes of care per resident per day, 2 minutes below its target of 223 minutes. Registered nurses provided 53 of those minutes, 9 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 153 of the 221 minutes (69.2%), followed by registered nurses (53 minutes, 24.0%) and enrolled nurses (15 minutes, 6.8%). In the same quarter, Calvary Sandhurst also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
