Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for RFBI Benhome Masonic Village is 4.15 out of 5, against a national average of 3.81. Three findings stand out as positive, and two are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 236 minutes against a 221-minute daily care target; RN time is 48 against 44.
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.
Worth a closer look
Confidence in staff skills is below the survey average
82% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.1% across other homes.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
81% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% 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 | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.36% | 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 | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.34% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.22% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.70% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does RFBI Benhome Masonic Village provide?
RFBI Benhome Masonic Village reported 236 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 15 minutes above its target of 221 minutes. Registered nurses provided 48 of those minutes, 4 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
In each of the last four quarters, RFBI Benhome Masonic Village met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 214 to 236 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 189 minutes, followed by registered nurses (48 minutes). In the same quarter, RFBI Benhome Masonic Village also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What do residents say about RFBI Benhome Masonic Village?
When residents surveyed at RFBI Benhome Masonic Village for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, above the 92.7% average across other homes by 7.3 percentage points. When residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (94% against 87.1%) and whether staff explain things to them (87% against 80.3%), answers were also above the average for other homes.
The widest gap below other homes came when residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing: 82% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 89.1%. In all, 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?
On a visit, you can ask about the training staff receive. When residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing, 38% answered “always”, 44% “most of the time” and 19% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at RFBI Benhome Masonic Village were asked whether they feel safe, 81% answered “always” and 19% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 63% answered “always” and 31% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at RFBI Benhome Masonic Village?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 69% of residents surveyed at RFBI Benhome Masonic Village 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 fell from 76% in 2025. Another 31% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, RFBI Benhome Masonic Village spent $16 per resident per day on food, in line with the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $1.29 per resident per day, 361% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to RFBI Benhome Masonic Village, 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”.
69% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How does RFBI Benhome Masonic Village spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, RFBI Benhome Masonic Village spent $424.68 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 61.7% of it. Care and nursing spending of $261.82 was 1% below the sector median of $264.85. These amounts are the home’s costs, not the fees a resident pays.
Where does the rest of the spending go?
Other categories included accommodation and maintenance ($51.32), cleaning and laundry ($32.50) and administration ($28.01) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($152.53) and registered nurses ($68.82).
