Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Nazareth House Geraldton is 3.86 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
Quality measures rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.06 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.
Following up concerns is above the survey average
91% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Reported care time falls short of a staffing target
Total care: 215 vs 233 minutes; registered nurses: 45 vs 46 minutes per resident per day.
Staffing rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Support for independence is below the survey average
73% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 87.2% 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: 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 | 3.06 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.36% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.25% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.09% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.10% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.17% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.34% | 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 Nazareth House Geraldton provide?
Nazareth House Geraldton reported 215 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 18 minutes below its target of 233 minutes. Of those minutes, 45 came from registered nurses, 1 minute below the registered-nurse target of 46.
Nazareth House Geraldton met both its total and registered-nurse targets in none of the last four quarters. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 210 to 219 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 162 of the 215 minutes (75.3%), followed by registered nurses (45 minutes, 20.9%) and enrolled nurses (8 minutes, 3.7%). In the same quarter, Nazareth House Geraldton also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What do residents say about Nazareth House Geraldton?
Asked in the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, 73% of residents surveyed at Nazareth House Geraldton answered “always” or “most of the time”, 14.2 percentage points below the average of 87.2% across other homes. When residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing (77% against 89.1%) and whether staff treat them with respect (87% against 95.4%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
The largest gap above other homes was when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things: 91% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 84.2%. 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 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, 59% answered “always”, 14% “most of the time”, 14% “some of the time” and 14% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Nazareth House Geraldton were asked whether they feel safe, 86% answered “always” and 9% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 73% answered “always” and 23% “most of the time”.
How does Nazareth House Geraldton spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Nazareth House Geraldton spent $227.06 per resident per day on care and nursing, 14% below the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $368 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 ($57.30), accommodation and maintenance ($28.65), and cleaning and laundry ($24.38) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($132.93) and registered nurses ($46.88).
What is the food like at Nazareth House Geraldton?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 68% of residents surveyed at Nazareth House Geraldton said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, within 3 percentage points of the 67.3% average across other homes. The share rose from 62% in 2025. Another 23% answered “some of the time” and 9% “never”.
Food spending at Nazareth House Geraldton in January to March 2026 was $14 per resident per day, 13% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.49 per resident per day, 75% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Nazareth House Geraldton reports that breakfast, lunch and dinner are all cooked fresh. Of all meals, 93% are prepared on site and the rest off site.
Do residents enjoy the food?
Residents who answered “Always” or “Most of the time”.
68% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
