Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Grutzner House is 4.04 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
Residents consistently describe respectful, caring staff
100% positive on respect and 100% on caring staff, versus 95.4% and 95.4% across other homes.
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 335 minutes against a 223-minute daily care target; RN time is 174 against 45.
Enjoying the food is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.3% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
50% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 92.7% across other homes.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
67% 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 | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.35% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.24% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.07% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.08% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.16% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.24% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.31% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.23% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.75% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Grutzner House provide?
In January to March 2026, Grutzner House reported 335 minutes of care per resident per day, 112 minutes above its target of 223 minutes. Registered nurses provided 174 of those minutes, 129 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 45.
In each of the last four quarters, Grutzner House met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 274 to 335.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, registered nurses provided 174 minutes, followed by enrolled nurses (160 minutes) and personal care workers (2 minutes). In the same quarter, Grutzner House also reported spending on podiatrists and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What do residents say about Grutzner House?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 100% of residents surveyed at Grutzner House answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff explain things to them, 19.8 percentage points above the average of 80.2% across other homes. When residents were asked whether the home is well run (100% against 88.1%) and whether staff know what they are doing (100% against 89.1%), answers were also above the average for other homes.
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities: 50% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 92.7%. Altogether, answers on 3 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. Of residents asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 33% answered “always”, 17% “most of the time” and 50% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 33% of residents surveyed at Grutzner House answered “always” and 67% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 33% answered “always” and 67% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at Grutzner House?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 100% of residents surveyed at Grutzner House said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 32.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. The share rose from 90% in 2025.
In January to March 2026, Grutzner House spent $37 per resident per day on food, 131% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, Grutzner House reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
Grutzner House reports that breakfast, lunch and dinner are all prepared by the cook-chill method. Of all meals, 19% are prepared on site and the rest off 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
How does Grutzner House spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Grutzner House spent $447.97 per resident per day on care and nursing, 69% above the sector median of $264.85. Total spending was $699.08 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 ($81.20), cleaning and laundry ($66.73), and accommodation and maintenance ($28.87) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to registered nurses ($241.80) and enrolled nurses ($151.39).
