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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Edmonton, accounting for 5.3% (101 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (4.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 32 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Edmonton - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Edmonton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Edmonton, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
22
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
22
2.5%
+1.4pp
5-14
2021 count
101
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
101
5.3%
+1.2pp
15-19
2021 count
33
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
33
4.1%
+1.3pp
20-24
2021 count
21
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
21
3.0%
+0.9pp
25-34
2021 count
33
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
33
2.0%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
47
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
47
3.1%
+0.8pp
45-54
2021 count
61
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
61
3.9%
-0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
73
2021 rate
6.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
73
6.5%
-0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
85
2021 rate
10.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
85
10.4%
+0.9pp
75-84
2021 count
85
2021 rate
22.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
85
22.3%
+1.1pp
85+
2021 count
38
2021 rate
28.6%
Change from 2016
-24.7pp
38
28.6%
-24.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+12
+1.4pp
5-14
+22
+1.2pp
15-19
+11
+1.3pp
20-24
+7
+0.9pp
25-34
+8
+0.4pp
35-44
+13
+0.8pp
45-54
+6
-0.1pp
55-64
+1
-0.6pp
65-74
+17
+0.9pp
75-84
+32
+1.1pp
85+
+6
-24.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Edmonton. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 22 | 2.5% | 1.4% | 10 | 1.1% | 0.9% | +12 | +1.4pp |
| 5-14 | 101 | 5.3% | 4.1% | 79 | 4.1% | 3.1% | +22 | +1.2pp |
| 15-19 | 33 | 4.1% | 3.2% | 22 | 2.8% | 2.4% | +11 | +1.3pp |
| 20-24 | 21 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 14 | 2.1% | 1.8% | +7 | +0.9pp |
| 25-34 | 33 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 25 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 47 | 3.1% | 2.3% | 34 | 2.3% | 2.1% | +13 | +0.8pp |
| 45-54 | 61 | 3.9% | 3.4% | 55 | 4.0% | 3.3% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 73 | 6.5% | 5.4% | 72 | 7.1% | 5.4% | +1 | -0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 85 | 10.4% | 10.0% | 68 | 9.5% | 8.9% | +17 | +0.9pp |
| 75-84 | 85 | 22.3% | 22.2% | 53 | 21.2% | 21.1% | +32 | +1.1pp |
| 85+ | 38 | 28.6% | 49.9% | 32 | 53.3% | 46.4% | +6 | -24.7pp |
| Total | 579 | 5.1% | 5.4% | 472 | 4.4% | 4.4% | +107 | +0.7pp |