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

Queensland has 198 aged care homes where at least one resident said they were never happy with the food they were served. SEE THE FULL LIST.

Hundreds of aged care homes across the country have residents who say they never like the food, a national survey has found.

In Queensland there were 198 homes in the state where at least one resident said they were never happy with what they were served.

Morayfield Grove Care Community, north of Brisbane, was the lowest ranked facility in Queensland, with 27 per cent of those surveyed saying they never liked the food and 60 per cent only liking it some of the time. No-one said they always liked the food.

It achieved a score of just 1.86 out of 4, the fifth lowest in the country.

Morayfield Grove Care Community was the lowest ranked facility in Queensland.

A spokesperson for Opal HealthCare said 15 residents, representing 16 per cent of the population, took part in the survey.

The spokesperson said in the two most recent quarterly surveys where 100 per cent of residents were asked a similar question, satisfaction ratings for food ranged from 86 per cent to 94 per cent.

“We believe the quarterly survey represents a more accurate assessment of resident satisfaction, given it includes the views of all residents rather than a minority, and their opinions are sought every 12 weeks or so – rather than once a year,” the spokesperson said.

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.

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.

Nazareth Residential Aged Care in Woolloongabba achieved the highest food score, with

85 per cent of those surveyed always liking the food and 15 per cent liking it most of the time. It achieved a score of 3.85 out of 4.

Nazareth Residential Aged Care, Woolloongabba, achieved Queensland’s highest food score.

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

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.

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

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, 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”.

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.

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