Population
Need for assistance
About this topic
Need for assistance measures people who report needing help with self-care, body movement, or communication because of a disability, a long-term health condition, or older age. It is a high-needs indicator rather than a general measure of disability.
This topic is useful for planning accessible facilities, care services, respite, and support for carers. The measure is based on self-report in the Census, so it should be interpreted with care and read alongside unpaid care and other disability-related indicators.
Interpretation notes
- The measure is self-reported and records need for help with core activities, so it is not a complete measure of disability prevalence.
- It applies to all persons and is strongest as an indicator of higher support need when read with unpaid care and ageing data.
Key insight
In 2021, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Adelaide, accounting for 6.8% (94 people). This share was higher than Adelaide (C) (6.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 47 people and 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Adelaide - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Adelaide in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Adelaide (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide, with comparison markers for Adelaide (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
3
0.9%
+0.9pp
5-14
2021 count
32
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
32
5.1%
+3.8pp
15-19
2021 count
9
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
9
1.1%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
22
2021 rate
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
22
0.6%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
54
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
54
1.1%
+0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
59
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
59
2.4%
+0.6pp
45-54
2021 count
65
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
65
3.9%
-0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
70
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
70
4.5%
-0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
94
2021 rate
6.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
94
6.8%
+1.8pp
75-84
2021 count
68
2021 rate
11.3%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
68
11.3%
-2.5pp
85+
2021 count
51
2021 rate
36.2%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
51
36.2%
+5.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.9pp
5-14
+27
+3.8pp
15-19
+5
+0.7pp
20-24
+13
+0.4pp
25-34
+31
+0.5pp
35-44
+27
+0.6pp
45-54
+6
-0.5pp
55-64
+9
-0.5pp
65-74
+47
+1.8pp
75-84
+20
-2.5pp
85+
+11
+5.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Adelaide. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Adelaide (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 3 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% | +3 | +0.9pp |
| 5-14 | 32 | 5.1% | 4.7% | 5 | 1.3% | 2.0% | +27 | +3.8pp |
| 15-19 | 9 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +5 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 22 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 9 | 0.2% | 0.3% | +13 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 54 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 23 | 0.6% | 0.7% | +31 | +0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 59 | 2.4% | 2.3% | 32 | 1.8% | 1.7% | +27 | +0.6pp |
| 45-54 | 65 | 3.9% | 3.5% | 59 | 4.4% | 3.8% | +6 | -0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 70 | 4.5% | 3.5% | 61 | 5.0% | 3.9% | +9 | -0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 94 | 6.8% | 6.4% | 47 | 5.0% | 4.9% | +47 | +1.8pp |
| 75-84 | 68 | 11.3% | 11.9% | 48 | 13.8% | 15.0% | +20 | -2.5pp |
| 85+ | 51 | 36.2% | 45.2% | 40 | 31.0% | 44.1% | +11 | +5.2pp |
| Total | 526 | 2.9% | 3.4% | 333 | 2.2% | 2.9% | +193 | +0.7pp |