Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Sheoak Lodge is 4.04 out of 5, compared with a national average of 3.81. Two findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
More residents consistently feel safe
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.2% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
53% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 80.3% across other homes.
Following up concerns is below the survey average
61% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% across other homes.
Confidence in staff skills is below the survey average
69% 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 | 95.37% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.24% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.10% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.43% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.11% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.16% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.28% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.35% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.24% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.43% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
What do residents say about Sheoak Lodge?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 53% of residents surveyed at Sheoak Lodge answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff explain things to them, below the 80.3% average across other homes by 27.3 percentage points. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (61% against 84.2%) and whether staff know what they are doing (69% against 89.1%).
The widest gap above other homes came when residents were asked whether they feel safe: 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 96.2%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
A visit is a chance to ask about how staff explain changes to care. Of residents asked whether staff explain things to them, 38% answered “always”, 15% “most of the time”, 31% “some of the time” and 15% “never”.
Do residents get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Sheoak Lodge were asked whether they get the care they need, 31% answered “always” and 54% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Sheoak Lodge provide?
Sheoak Lodge reported 228 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 12 minutes above its target of 216 minutes. Registered nurses provided 45 of those minutes, 1 minute above the registered-nurse target of 44.
Sheoak Lodge met both its total and registered-nurse targets in three of the last four quarters. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 221 to 242 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 152 of the 228 minutes (66.7%), followed by registered nurses (45 minutes, 19.7%) and enrolled nurses (31 minutes, 13.6%). In the same quarter, Sheoak Lodge also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Sheoak Lodge?
When residents surveyed at Sheoak Lodge for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 54% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 13.4 percentage points below the average of 67.4% across other homes. The share was also 54% in 2025. Another 31% answered “some of the time” and 15% “never”.
In January to March 2026, Sheoak Lodge spent $20 per resident per day on food, 25% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.86 per resident per day, 207% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Sheoak Lodge, 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”.
54% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How does Sheoak Lodge spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Sheoak Lodge spent $417.58 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 63.9% of it. Care and nursing spending of $266.99 was 1% above 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?
Other categories included administration ($58.95), cleaning and laundry ($27.99), and accommodation and maintenance ($13.77) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($121.46) and registered nurses ($72.81).
