Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Patrick Bugden VC Gardens is 4.15 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
Residents consistently describe respectful, caring staff
100% positive on respect and 100% on caring staff, versus 95.4% and 95.4% across other homes.
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 225 minutes against a 223-minute daily care target; RN time is 47 against 45.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
71% positive in 2026, compared with 86% in 2025: 15 percentage points lower.
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
85% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 92.7% across other homes.
Confidence in staff skills is below the survey average
86% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.1% 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 | 95.35% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.24% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.08% | 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 | 67.34% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.21% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
What do residents say about Patrick Bugden VC Gardens?
When residents surveyed at Patrick Bugden VC Gardens for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 93% answered “always” or “most of the time”, above the 84.2% average across other homes by 8.8 percentage points. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether they get the care they need (100% against 94.4%) and whether the home is well run (93% against 88.1%).
The widest gap below other homes came when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities: 85% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 92.7%. Altogether, answers on 2 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?
A visit is a chance to ask about how residents have a say in daily activities. When residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 64% answered “always”, 21% “most of the time” and 14% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe?
When residents surveyed at Patrick Bugden VC Gardens were asked whether they feel safe, 79% answered “always” and 21% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Patrick Bugden VC Gardens provide?
In January to March 2026, Patrick Bugden VC Gardens reported 225 minutes of care per resident per day, 2 minutes above its target of 223 minutes. Of those minutes, 47 came from registered nurses, 2 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 45.
Patrick Bugden VC Gardens met both its total and registered-nurse targets in each of the last four quarters. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 224 to 229.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 173 of the 225 minutes (76.9%), followed by registered nurses (47 minutes, 20.9%) and enrolled nurses (5 minutes, 2.2%). In the same quarter, Patrick Bugden VC Gardens also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Patrick Bugden VC Gardens?
When residents surveyed at Patrick Bugden VC Gardens for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 71% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 3.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. The share fell from 86% in 2025. Another 21% answered “some of the time” and 7% “never”.
Food spending at Patrick Bugden VC Gardens in January to March 2026 was $15 per resident per day, 6% below the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.11 per resident per day, 61% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Patrick Bugden VC Gardens, 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”.
71% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How does Patrick Bugden VC Gardens spend on resident care?
Total spending at Patrick Bugden VC Gardens in the 2024–25 financial year was $439.89 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 60.4% of it. Care and nursing spending of $265.62 was in line with the sector median of $264.85. These figures are the home’s costs, not the fees a resident pays.
Where does the rest of the spending go?
Spending on other categories included administration ($58.34), accommodation and maintenance ($40.25), and cleaning and laundry ($30.22) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($150.86) and registered nurses ($68.87).
