Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Lutheran Homes Horsham is 2.89 out of 5, against a national average of 3.81. Two 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.
Enjoying the food is above the survey average
73% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.3% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Support for independence is below the survey average
14% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 87.2% across other homes.
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
27% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 80.3% across other homes.
How well the home is run is below the survey average
54% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 88.1% 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 | 96.25% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.11% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.43% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.10% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.22% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.31% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.33% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.24% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.42% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
What do residents say about Lutheran Homes Horsham?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 14% of residents surveyed at Lutheran Homes Horsham answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, below the 87.2% average across other homes by 73.2 percentage points. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff explain things to them (27% against 80.3%) and whether the home is well run (54% against 88.1%).
On 7 of the 10 questions other than food, answers at Lutheran Homes Horsham were at least 3 percentage points below the average for other homes, and on the rest they were within 3 percentage points.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how staff support residents to do things for themselves. When residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, 7% answered “always”, 7% “most of the time”, 60% “some of the time” and 27% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 80% of residents surveyed at Lutheran Homes Horsham answered “always” and 13% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 20% answered “always” and 67% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Lutheran Homes Horsham provide?
In January to March 2026, Lutheran Homes Horsham reported 201 minutes of care per resident per day, 3 minutes above its target of 198 minutes. Registered nurses provided 48 of those minutes, 7 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 41.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 134 minutes, followed by registered nurses (48 minutes) and enrolled nurses (20 minutes). In the same quarter, Lutheran Homes Horsham also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Lutheran Homes Horsham?
When residents surveyed at Lutheran Homes Horsham for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 73% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 5.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. Another 27% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
Food spending at Lutheran Homes Horsham in January to March 2026 was $16 per resident per day, in line with the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.34 per resident per day, 21% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Lutheran Homes Horsham, 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”.
73% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
