Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Capecare Dunsborough is 3.82 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
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Support for independence is below the survey average
46% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 88.6% across other homes.
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
61% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 81.8% 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: 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 | 96.46% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.33% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.48% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.48% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.62% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.83% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.26% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.20% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.19% | 1354 |
What do residents say about Capecare Dunsborough?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 46% of residents surveyed at Capecare Dunsborough answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, below the 88.6% average across other homes by 42.6 percentage points. 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 treat them with respect (84% against 95.9%).
On 8 of the 10 questions other than food, answers at Capecare Dunsborough were at least 3 percentage points below the average for other homes, and on the rest they were within 3 percentage points.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how staff support residents to do things for themselves. When residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, 8% answered “always”, 38% “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 Capecare Dunsborough were asked whether they feel safe, 62% answered “always” and 23% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 62% answered “always” and 23% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Capecare Dunsborough provide?
In January to March 2026, Capecare Dunsborough reported 218 minutes of care per resident per day, 5 minutes above its target of 213 minutes. Of those minutes, 52 came from registered nurses, 8 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
Capecare Dunsborough met both its total and registered-nurse targets in three of the last four quarters. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 213 to 246.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 166 of the 218 minutes (76.1%), followed by registered nurses (52 minutes, 23.9%). In the same quarter, Capecare Dunsborough also reported spending on physiotherapists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does Capecare Dunsborough spend on resident care?
Spending on care and nursing at Capecare Dunsborough in the 2024–25 financial year was $301.32 per resident per day, 14% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $546.75 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?
Spending on other categories included administration ($91.37), accommodation and maintenance ($75.26), and cleaning and laundry ($19.09) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($172.80) and registered nurses ($81.42).
What is the food like at Capecare Dunsborough?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 70% of residents surveyed at Capecare Dunsborough said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, within 3 percentage points of the 70.3% average across other homes. The share fell from 77% in 2024. Another 15% answered “some of the time” and 15% “never”.
Food spending at Capecare Dunsborough in January to March 2026 was $14 per resident per day, 13% below the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.36 per resident per day, 29% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Capecare Dunsborough, 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”.
70% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
