Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House is 4.67 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
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 199 minutes against a 183-minute daily care target; RN time is 59 against 39.
Enjoying the food is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 70.2% across other homes.
Quality measures rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.06 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Following up concerns is below the survey average
75% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 85.2% across other homes.
Kind and caring staff is below the survey average
91% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.0% across other homes.
Fewer residents consistently feel safe
92% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.5% 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 | 3.06 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.86% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.45% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.33% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.47% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.48% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.59% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.81% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.24% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.20% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.19% | 1354 |
How much care and nursing does Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House provide?
In January to March 2026, Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House reported 199 minutes of care per resident per day, 16 minutes above its target of 183 minutes. Registered nurses provided 59 of those minutes, 20 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 39.
In each of the last four quarters, Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 186 to 201.
Who provides that care?
Of the 199 minutes, personal care workers provided 140 (70.4%), followed by registered nurses (59 minutes, 29.6%). In the same quarter, Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House?
When residents surveyed at Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 29.8 percentage points above the average of 70.2% across other homes. The share rose from 92% in 2024.
In January to March 2026, Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House spent $17 per resident per day on food, 6% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House 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”.
100% 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 Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 75% of residents surveyed at Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, below the 85.2% average across other homes by 10.2 percentage points. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring (91% against 96.0%) and whether they feel safe (92% against 96.5%).
The largest gap above other homes was when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities: 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 93.2%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
A visit is a chance to ask about how the home records and follows up concerns. When residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 50% answered “always”, 25% “most of the time” and 25% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House were asked whether they get the care they need, 75% answered “always” and 17% “most of the time”.
How does Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House spend on resident care?
Spending on care and nursing at Catholic Healthcare Bethlehem House in the 2024–25 financial year was $235.68 per resident per day, 11% below the sector median of $264.85. Total spending was $432.95 per resident per day. These figures 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 ($89.37), accommodation and maintenance ($37.53), and cleaning and laundry ($23.07) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($112.66) and registered nurses ($91.97).
