Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Calvary The Homestead is 2.93 out of 5, compared with a national average of 3.81. One finding stands out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Residents report stronger support for independence
93% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 88.6% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
69% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 93.2% across other homes.
Staffing rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
61% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 81.8% 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 | 95.87% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.45% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.34% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.48% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.49% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.59% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.83% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.27% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.21% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.97% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.21% | 1354 |
What do residents say about Calvary The Homestead?
When residents surveyed at Calvary The Homestead for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 69% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 24.2 percentage points below the average of 93.2% across other homes. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff explain things to them (61% against 81.8%) and whether staff know what they are doing (69% against 89.5%).
The widest gap above other homes came when residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves: 93% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 88.6%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
A visit is a chance to ask about how residents have a say in daily activities. Of residents asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 46% answered “always”, 23% “most of the time”, 15% “some of the time” and 15% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Calvary The Homestead were asked whether they feel safe, 54% answered “always” and 38% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 54% answered “always” and 31% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Calvary The Homestead provide?
Calvary The Homestead reported 222 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 4 minutes below its target of 226 minutes. Of those minutes, 42 came from registered nurses, 3 minutes below the registered-nurse target of 45.
Who provides that care?
Of the 222 minutes, personal care workers provided 161 (72.5%), followed by registered nurses (42 minutes, 18.9%) and enrolled nurses (19 minutes, 8.6%). In the same quarter, Calvary The Homestead also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Calvary The Homestead?
When residents surveyed at Calvary The Homestead for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 62% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 8.3 percentage points below the average of 70.3% across other homes. Another 23% answered “some of the time” and 15% “never”.
In January to March 2026, Calvary The Homestead spent $21 per resident per day on food, 31% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.13 per resident per day, 54% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Calvary The Homestead 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”.
62% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
