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, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Alexandrina (DC), accounting for 15.8% (496 people). This share was lower than Regional SA (17.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 142 people.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Alexandrina (DC) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Alexandrina (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Alexandrina (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
13
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
13
1.2%
-0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
202
2021 rate
6.9%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
202
6.9%
+2.3pp
15-19
2021 count
75
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
75
5.3%
+2.2pp
20-24
2021 count
49
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
49
4.7%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
73
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
73
3.3%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
64
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
64
2.4%
-1.4pp
45-54
2021 count
147
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
147
4.2%
+0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
274
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
274
6.1%
+0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
416
2021 rate
7.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
416
7.8%
+0.9pp
75-84
2021 count
496
2021 rate
15.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
496
15.8%
0.0pp
85+
2021 count
470
2021 rate
49.9%
Change from 2016
+9.6pp
470
49.9%
+9.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-5
-0.4pp
5-14
+70
+2.3pp
15-19
+34
+2.2pp
20-24
+5
+0.4pp
25-34
+13
+0.3pp
35-44
-38
-1.4pp
45-54
+19
+0.4pp
55-64
+47
+0.6pp
65-74
+114
+0.9pp
75-84
+142
0.0pp
85+
+138
+9.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Alexandrina (DC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 13 | 1.2% | 1.6% | 18 | 1.6% | 1.3% | -5 | -0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 202 | 6.9% | 5.2% | 132 | 4.6% | 3.9% | +70 | +2.3pp |
| 15-19 | 75 | 5.3% | 4.3% | 41 | 3.1% | 3.3% | +34 | +2.2pp |
| 20-24 | 49 | 4.7% | 3.5% | 44 | 4.3% | 2.9% | +5 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 73 | 3.3% | 2.7% | 60 | 3.0% | 2.3% | +13 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 64 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 102 | 3.8% | 3.1% | -38 | -1.4pp |
| 45-54 | 147 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 128 | 3.8% | 4.4% | +19 | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 274 | 6.1% | 6.2% | 227 | 5.5% | 6.0% | +47 | +0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 416 | 7.8% | 8.7% | 302 | 6.9% | 8.5% | +114 | +0.9pp |
| 75-84 | 496 | 15.8% | 17.5% | 354 | 15.8% | 16.4% | +142 | 0.0pp |
| 85+ | 470 | 49.9% | 45.5% | 332 | 40.3% | 41.7% | +138 | +9.6pp |
| Total | 2,270 | 7.9% | 7.0% | 1,740 | 6.7% | 6.2% | +530 | +1.2pp |