Highest to lowest: Every NSW aged care home food rating and ranking revealed

A western Sydney aged care home has been named the worst in NSW – and the nation – for its food. See who is serving up culinary delights and who falls short.

A western Sydney aged care home has been named the worst in NSW – and the nation – for its food, after an audit by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Estia Health Bankstown was the lowest ranked home with a food score of 1.84 out of 4 and with more than half of residents never liking the food (53 per cent).

The results come from a national annual survey of up to 20 per cent, or more than 36,200 aged care residents across Australia who were asked, ‘Do you like the food here?’. The answers were collected last year.

The results – which also include other questions such as whether residents feel safe or whether the staff know what they’re doing – are important because they carry a 33 per cent weighting towards the overall Star Ratings score for each home.

“The survey in question was undertaken 10 months ago on 12 per cent of the residents in the home,” a spokesman for Estia Health said.

Estia Health Bankstown was the lowest ranked home in the state and the nation.

“We frequently seek feedback from our residents about their food and dining experience and have initiated a number of improvements to our service model, including the approval in November last year of approximately $500,000 in service upgrades across the home.”

Analysis of the data by the Department of Health and Aged Care shows enjoyment of food in aged care has remained the same over the past three years. Each year around seven out of 10 residents answer positively.

During that period there has also been a slight decrease in the prevalence of significant unplanned weight loss.

The median spend on food has also increased by $2.52 since 2022 to $14.92 per resident per day.

The Greek Community Home For The Aged in Earlwood, Sydney, topped the national table with a perfect score of 4 out of 4.

The Greek Community Home For The Aged in Earlwood. Chef Panayiotis Giannakopoulos pictured. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The government is bringing in a new Food Standard from July 1 which will measure whether residents get plenty of food and drinks they enjoy and are nutritious, appetising and safe, and meet their needs and preferences.

Minister Mark Butler said older Australians have “worked their whole lives, they deserve tasty, nutritious food in aged care”.

Sheridan Fredericks, Regional Hospitality Manager for Catholic Healthcare – which had 30 homes ranked in the top 100 – said their meals must meet strict nutritional standards, with protein and calcium carefully balanced across every meal and snack and “monitored as closely as clinical care standards”.

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Chef Yan Xu and residents of St Bedes aged care home Gloria Mcara and Arthur Andonpoulos enjoying the food that is being prepared at the aged care home. Picture Thomas Lisson

He also warned if aged care homes “don’t look at the bigger picture”, then their satisfaction rates are likely to stay low.

“Residents are more willing to give feedback when they feel good about the whole dining experience, not just the food,” Mr Fredericks said.

“It’s not a simple step-by-step process where you can tick off boxes and expect everything to work.

“It’s also crucial to involve residents in the process. Let them know you’re listening — show them how their feedback has influenced the menus or the dining experience. That’s what we’ve learned … it’s essential to close the loop.”

Originally published as Highest to lowest: Every NSW aged care home food rating and ranking revealed