Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Grafton Aged Care Home is 2.9 out of 5, compared with a national average of 3.81. Three findings are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Worth a closer look
Residents’ experience rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.62 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Staffing rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Quality measures rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.07 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. No survey comparison is made: the survey year in the ratings extract does not match this home’s latest survey. 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.
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 |
What is the food like at Grafton Aged Care Home?
When residents surveyed at Grafton Aged Care Home for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 77% answered “always” or “most of the time”. Another 23% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, Grafton Aged Care Home spent $7 per resident per day on food, 56% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, Grafton Aged Care Home reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
According to Grafton Aged Care Home, 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”.
77% 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 Grafton Aged Care Home?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, the highest share of “always” or “most of the time” answers from residents surveyed at Grafton Aged Care Home, 100%, came on 6 of the 10 questions other than food, including whether staff treat them with respect. The lowest share was 84%, when residents were asked whether the home is well run.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about who runs the home day to day and how changes are communicated. When residents were asked whether the home is well run, 38% answered “always”, 46% “most of the time” and 15% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 85% of residents surveyed at Grafton Aged Care Home answered “always” and 15% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 77% answered “always” and 15% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Grafton Aged Care Home provide?
In January to March 2026, Grafton Aged Care Home reported 267 minutes of care per resident per day.
Who provides that care?
Of the 267 minutes, personal care workers provided 199 (74.5%), followed by registered nurses (58 minutes, 21.7%) and enrolled nurses (10 minutes, 3.7%). Grafton Aged Care Home also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, and lifestyle and recreation workers in the same quarter.
