Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The residents’ experience rating for Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care is 3 out of 5, against a national average of 3.62. Three findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
More residents feel they have a say in daily life
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 92.7% across other homes.
Residents report stronger support for independence
94% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 87.1% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Enjoying the food is below the survey average
41% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.4% across other homes.
How well the home is run is below the survey average
65% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 88.1% 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 | 2366 |
| Residents’ experience | 3.62 | 2434 |
| Compliance | 4.83 | 2396 |
| 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 | 88.10% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.09% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.15% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.26% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.36% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.22% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.70% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care provide?
In January to March 2026, Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care reported 232 minutes of care per resident per day, 30 minutes above its target of 202 minutes. Registered nurses provided 42 of those minutes, matching the registered-nurse target of 42.
Who provides that care?
Of the 232 minutes, personal care workers provided 190 (81.9%), followed by registered nurses (42 minutes, 18.1%). Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care also reported spending on physiotherapists, speech pathologists and dietitians in the same quarter.
What do residents say about Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 100% of residents surveyed at Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, above the 92.7% average across other homes by 7.3 percentage points. When residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (94% against 87.1%) and whether they get the care they need (100% against 94.4%), answers were also above the average for other homes.
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether the home is well run: 65% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 88.1%. 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?
On a visit, you can ask about who runs the home day to day and how changes are communicated. Of residents asked whether the home is well run, 12% answered “always”, 53% “most of the time”, 29% “some of the time” and 6% “never”.
Do residents feel safe?
When residents surveyed at Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care were asked whether they feel safe, 71% answered “always” and 29% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 41% of residents surveyed at Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 26.4 percentage points below the average of 67.4% across other homes. Another 41% answered “some of the time” and 18% “never”.
In January to March 2026, Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care spent $27 per resident per day on food, 69% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.78 per resident per day, 179% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Lake Cathie Manor Aged Care reports that 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”.
41% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
