Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Heathcote Health Low Care Service is 4.7 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
Food enjoyment is above average, with lower reported spending
75% enjoy meals vs 67.3% across other homes; spending is $13 vs a $16 sector median.
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 220 minutes against a 209-minute daily care target; RN time is 79 against 43.
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
Confidence in staff skills is below the survey average
83% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.1% across other homes.
Kind and caring staff is below the survey average
91% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 95.4% across other homes.
Respectful treatment is below the survey average
92% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 95.4% 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: 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 | 95.36% | 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 | 89.09% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.15% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.33% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.21% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.42% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.70% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Heathcote Health Low Care Service provide?
In January to March 2026, Heathcote Health Low Care Service reported 220 minutes of care per resident per day, 11 minutes above its target of 209 minutes. Registered nurses provided 79 of those minutes, 36 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 43.
Heathcote Health Low Care Service met both its total and registered-nurse targets in each of the last four quarters. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 209 to 251.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 87 minutes per resident per day, followed by registered nurses (79 minutes) and enrolled nurses (55 minutes). In the same quarter, Heathcote Health Low Care Service also reported spending on physiotherapists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does Heathcote Health Low Care Service spend on resident care?
Spending on care and nursing at Heathcote Health Low Care Service in the 2024–25 financial year was $301.29 per resident per day, 14% above the sector median of $264.85. Total spending was $498.08 per resident per day. These amounts are the home’s costs, not the fees a resident pays.
Where does the rest of the spending go?
Other categories included administration ($75.11), accommodation and maintenance ($65.38), and cleaning and laundry ($18.30) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($92.30) and registered nurses ($90.85).
What is the food like at Heathcote Health Low Care Service?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 75% of residents surveyed at Heathcote Health Low Care Service said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 7.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. The share was also 75% in 2025. Another 25% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, Heathcote Health Low Care Service spent $13 per resident per day on food, 19% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $1.33 per resident per day, 375% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Heathcote Health Low Care Service, 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”.
75% 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 Heathcote Health Low Care Service?
When residents surveyed at Heathcote Health Low Care Service for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether the home is well run, 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, above the 88.1% average across other homes by 11.9 percentage points. When residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (92% against 84.2%) and whether they have a say in their daily activities (100% against 92.7%), answers were also above the average for other homes.
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing: 83% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 89.1%. In all, 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 the training staff receive. When residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing, 83% answered “always” and 17% “some of the time”; none answered “most of the time” or “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 92% of residents surveyed at Heathcote Health Low Care Service answered “always” and 8% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 100% answered “always”.
