Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Montana Aged Care Facility is 2.78 out of 5, against a national average of 3.81. Three findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
How well the home is run is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.3% across other homes.
Enjoying the food is above the survey average
76% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 70.3% across other homes.
Getting needed care is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 94.5% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Quality measures rating trails the national average
1 out of 5, compared with 3.07 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Fewer residents consistently feel safe
69% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.5% across other homes.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
61% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 85.2% 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: 2025 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 2025 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 | 95.87% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.47% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.32% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.47% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.48% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.59% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.81% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.26% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.21% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.19% | 1354 |
What do residents say about Montana Aged Care Facility?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 69% of residents surveyed at Montana Aged Care Facility answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether they feel safe, 27.5 percentage points below the average of 96.5% across other homes. When residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (61% against 85.2%) and whether staff treat them with respect (84% against 95.9%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
The widest gap above other homes came when residents were asked whether the home is well run: 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 89.3%. Altogether, answers on 2 of the 10 questions other than food were at least 3 percentage points above the average for other homes.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about what the home does when a resident says they feel unsafe. Of residents asked whether they feel safe, 38% answered “always”, 31% “most of the time” and 31% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents get the care they need?
Asked whether they get the care they need, 62% of residents surveyed at Montana Aged Care Facility answered “always” and 38% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Montana Aged Care Facility provide?
In January to March 2026, Montana Aged Care Facility reported 234 minutes of care per resident per day, 1 minute below its target of 235 minutes. Of those minutes, 47 came from registered nurses, matching the registered-nurse target of 47.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 186 minutes, followed by registered nurses (47 minutes). In the same quarter, Montana Aged Care Facility also reported spending on physiotherapists, speech pathologists and dietitians.
What is the food like at Montana Aged Care Facility?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 76% of residents surveyed at Montana Aged Care Facility said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 5.7 percentage points above the average of 70.3% across other homes. Another 23% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, Montana Aged Care Facility spent $17 per resident per day on food, 6% above the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.87 per resident per day, 211% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Montana Aged Care Facility 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”.
76% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
