Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Ozcare Douglas is 3.85 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
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
4 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.
Staff communication is a relative strength
92% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 81.8% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Compliance rating trails the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 4.83 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
72% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 85.2% across other homes.
Enjoying the food is below the survey average
60% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 70.3% 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 | 95.86% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.45% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.33% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.48% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.48% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.59% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.81% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.27% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.20% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.19% | 1354 |
How much care and nursing does Ozcare Douglas provide?
In January to March 2026, Ozcare Douglas reported 218 minutes of care per resident per day, 7 minutes above its target of 211 minutes. Registered nurses provided 47 of those minutes, 4 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 43.
In two of the last four quarters, Ozcare Douglas met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 218 to 239.
Who provides that care?
Of the 218 minutes, personal care workers provided 161 (73.9%), followed by registered nurses (47 minutes, 21.6%) and enrolled nurses (10 minutes, 4.6%). In the same quarter, Ozcare Douglas also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Ozcare Douglas?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 60% of residents surveyed at Ozcare Douglas said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 10.3 percentage points below the average of 70.3% across other homes. Another 36% answered “some of the time” and 4% “never”.
In January to March 2026, Ozcare Douglas spent $21 per resident per day on food, 31% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.44 per resident per day, 57% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Ozcare Douglas, 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”.
60% 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 Ozcare Douglas?
When residents surveyed at Ozcare Douglas for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 72% answered “always” or “most of the time”, below the 85.2% average across other homes by 13.2 percentage points. When residents were asked whether they get the care they need (88% against 94.5%) and whether the home is well run (84% against 89.3%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
The widest gap above other homes came when residents were asked whether staff explain things to them: 92% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 81.8%. 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?
A visit is a chance to ask about how the home records and follows up concerns. When residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 56% answered “always”, 16% “most of the time”, 24% “some of the time” and 4% “never”.
Do residents feel safe?
Asked whether they feel safe, 68% of residents surveyed at Ozcare Douglas answered “always” and 24% “most of the time”.
