Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Estia Health Parkside is 3.97 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
Food enjoyment is above average, with lower reported spending
83% enjoy meals vs 67.3% across other homes; spending is $12 vs a $16 sector median.
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 242 minutes against a 231-minute daily care target; RN time is 48 against 45.
Quality measures rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.06 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
58% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 80.3% across other homes.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
66% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% 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: 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 | 3.06 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.36% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.25% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.09% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.43% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.09% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.16% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.28% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.32% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.23% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
What do residents say about Estia Health Parkside?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 58% of residents surveyed at Estia Health Parkside answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff explain things to them, 22.3 percentage points below the average of 80.3% across other homes. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (66% against 84.2%) and whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (75% against 87.2%).
The widest gap above other homes came when residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring: 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 95.4%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how staff explain changes to care. Of residents asked whether staff explain things to them, 33% answered “always”, 25% “most of the time”, 33% “some of the time” and 8% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 58% of residents surveyed at Estia Health Parkside answered “always” and 33% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 50% answered “always” and 33% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Estia Health Parkside provide?
In January to March 2026, Estia Health Parkside reported 242 minutes of care per resident per day, 11 minutes above its target of 231 minutes. Of those minutes, 48 came from registered nurses, 3 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 45.
Estia Health Parkside met both its total and registered-nurse targets in each of the last four quarters. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 236 to 244 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Of the 242 minutes, personal care workers provided 176 (72.7%), followed by registered nurses (48 minutes, 19.8%) and enrolled nurses (18 minutes, 7.4%). Estia Health Parkside also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers in the same quarter.
What is the food like at Estia Health Parkside?
When residents surveyed at Estia Health Parkside for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 83% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 15.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. The share rose from 75% in 2025. Another 17% answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, Estia Health Parkside spent $12 per resident per day on food, 25% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.36 per resident per day, 29% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Estia Health Parkside, 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
How does Estia Health Parkside spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Estia Health Parkside spent $415 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 64.8% of it. Care and nursing spending of $268.75 was 1% above the sector median of $264.85. 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 ($52.90), accommodation and maintenance ($40.47), and cleaning and laundry ($25.74) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($134.94) and registered nurses ($83.21).
