Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House is 4.22 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
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 341 minutes against a 222-minute daily care target; RN time is 299 against 44.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 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
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
59% positive in 2025, compared with 86% in 2024: 27 percentage points lower.
Quality measures rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.07 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Enjoying the food is below the survey average
59% 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 | 89.47% | 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 | 93.20% | 1354 |
How much care and nursing does West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House provide?
In January to March 2026, West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House reported 341 minutes of care per resident per day, 119 minutes above its target of 222 minutes. Registered nurses provided 299 of those minutes, 255 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House 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 341 to 423.
Who provides that care?
Of the 341 minutes, registered nurses provided 299 (87.7%), followed by personal care workers (42 minutes, 12.3%). West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House also reported spending on podiatrists and lifestyle and recreation workers in the same quarter.
How does West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House spend on resident care?
Spending on care and nursing at West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House in the 2024–25 financial year was $962.55 per resident per day, 263% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $1,443.92 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?
Spending on other categories included administration ($123.30), accommodation and maintenance ($117.79), and cleaning and laundry ($104.06) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to registered nurses ($536.45) and personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($159.26).
What do residents say about West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House?
When residents surveyed at West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they get the care they need, 84% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 10.5 percentage points below the average of 94.5% across other homes. Answers were also below the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (75% against 85.2%) and whether they have a say in their daily activities (83% against 93.2%).
The largest gap above other homes was when residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing: 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 89.5%. In all, answers on 4 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 care plans are reviewed and changed. When residents were asked whether they get the care they need, 67% answered “always”, 17% “most of the time”, 8% “some of the time” and 8% “never”.
Do residents feel safe?
When residents surveyed at West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House were asked whether they feel safe, 92% answered “always”.
What is the food like at West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 59% of residents surveyed at West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 11.3 percentage points below the average of 70.3% across other homes. The share fell from 86% in 2024. Another 25% answered “some of the time” and 17% “never”.
Food spending at West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House in January to March 2026 was $19 per resident per day, 19% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
West Coast District Hospital - Lyell House reports that 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”.
59% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
