Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Illoura - Residential Aged Care is 4.37 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
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Residents’ experience rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.62 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Residents show greater confidence in staff skills
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.1% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Enjoying the food is below the survey average
38% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.4% across other homes.
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
38% positive in 2026, compared with 64% in 2025: 26 percentage points lower.
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 | 88.08% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.08% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.15% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.26% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.37% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.21% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Illoura - Residential Aged Care provide?
In January to March 2026, Illoura - Residential Aged Care reported 242 minutes of care per resident per day, 24 minutes above its target of 218 minutes. Of those minutes, 65 came from registered nurses, 21 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
Illoura - Residential Aged Care met both its total and registered-nurse targets in three of the last four quarters. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 208 to 242.
Who provides that care?
Of the 242 minutes, enrolled nurses provided 162 (66.9%), followed by registered nurses (65 minutes, 26.9%) and personal care workers (15 minutes, 6.2%). In the same quarter, Illoura - Residential Aged Care also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Illoura - Residential Aged Care?
When residents surveyed at Illoura - Residential Aged Care for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 38% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 29.4 percentage points below the average of 67.4% across other homes. The share fell from 64% in 2025. Another 62% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
Food spending at Illoura - Residential Aged Care in January to March 2026 was $24 per resident per day, 50% above the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.76 per resident per day, 171% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Illoura - Residential Aged Care, breakfast, lunch and dinner are all prepared by the cook-freeze method. Of all meals, 30% are prepared on site and the rest off site.
Do residents enjoy the food?
Residents who answered “Always” or “Most of the time”.
38% 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 Illoura - Residential Aged Care?
When residents surveyed at Illoura - Residential Aged Care for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether staff know what they are doing, 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 10.9 percentage points above the average of 89.1% across other homes. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (92% against 84.2%) and whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (92% against 87.1%).
The widest gap below other homes came when residents were asked whether staff treat them with respect: 92% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 95.4%. In all, 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?
On a visit, you can ask about how staff are expected to treat residents. Of residents asked whether staff treat them with respect, 77% answered “always”, 15% “most of the time” and 8% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 92% of residents surveyed at Illoura - Residential Aged Care answered “always” and 8% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 62% answered “always” and 31% “most of the time”.
How does Illoura - Residential Aged Care spend on resident care?
Spending on care and nursing at Illoura - Residential Aged Care in the 2024–25 financial year was $349.24 per resident per day, 32% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $573.97 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?
Spending on other categories included accommodation and maintenance ($97.27), administration ($47.52), and cleaning and laundry ($20.34) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to enrolled nurses ($211.14) and registered nurses ($89.02).
