Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Charlton Aged Care is 4.67 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
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 329 minutes against a 183-minute daily care target; RN time is 171 against 38.
Quality measures rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.06 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
77% positive in 2025, compared with 100% in 2024: 23 percentage points lower.
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
78% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 93.2% across other homes.
Kind and caring staff is below the survey average
89% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.0% 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 | 88.58% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.80% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.26% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.18% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.20% | 1354 |
How much care and nursing does Charlton Aged Care provide?
Charlton Aged Care reported 329 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 146 minutes above its target of 183 minutes. Of those minutes, 171 came from registered nurses, 133 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 38.
In each of the last four quarters, Charlton Aged Care met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 322 to 337 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Registered nurses provided 171 of the 329 minutes (52.0%), followed by enrolled nurses (94 minutes, 28.6%) and personal care workers (64 minutes, 19.5%). In the same quarter, Charlton Aged Care also reported spending on physiotherapists, speech pathologists, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What do residents say about Charlton Aged Care?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 100% of residents surveyed at Charlton Aged Care answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff explain things to them, above the 81.8% average across other homes by 18.2 percentage points. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (100% against 85.2%) and whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (100% against 88.6%).
The widest gap below other homes came when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities: 78% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 93.2%. 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?
A visit is a chance to ask about how residents have a say in daily activities. When residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 56% answered “always”, 22% “most of the time”, 11% “some of the time” and 11% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Charlton Aged Care were asked whether they feel safe, 89% answered “always” and 11% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 89% answered “always” and 11% “most of the time”.
How does Charlton Aged Care spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Charlton Aged Care spent $439.82 per resident per day on care and nursing, 66% above the sector median of $264.85. Total spending was $788.85 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 accommodation and maintenance ($114.67), cleaning and laundry ($77.60) and administration ($46.70) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to registered nurses ($255.67) and enrolled nurses ($91.49).
What is the food like at Charlton Aged Care?
When residents surveyed at Charlton Aged Care for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 77% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 6.7 percentage points above the average of 70.3% across other homes. The share fell from 100% in 2024. Another 22% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
Food spending at Charlton Aged Care in January to March 2026 was $25 per resident per day, 56% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, Charlton Aged Care reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
Charlton Aged Care reports that breakfast and lunch are cooked fresh, while dinner is prepared by the cook-chill method. All meals are prepared on site.
Do residents enjoy the food?
Residents who answered “Always” or “Most of the time”.
77% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
