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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Dorset (M), accounting for 48.4% (105 people). This share was higher than Regional Tas. (45.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 47 people and 14.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Dorset (M) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Dorset (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dorset (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
4
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
4
1.3%
-1.9pp
5-14
2021 count
48
2021 rate
6.0%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
48
6.0%
+4.3pp
15-19
2021 count
11
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
3.2%
0.0pp
20-24
2021 count
13
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
13
4.3%
+1.5pp
25-34
2021 count
27
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
27
3.9%
+1.1pp
35-44
2021 count
17
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
17
2.6%
+1.5pp
45-54
2021 count
39
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
39
4.8%
+0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
72
2021 rate
6.3%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
72
6.3%
-1.8pp
65-74
2021 count
89
2021 rate
8.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
89
8.9%
+0.8pp
75-84
2021 count
96
2021 rate
18.1%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
96
18.1%
+2.3pp
85+
2021 count
105
2021 rate
48.4%
Change from 2016
+14.9pp
105
48.4%
+14.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-6
-1.9pp
5-14
+34
+4.3pp
15-19
0
0.0pp
20-24
+4
+1.5pp
25-34
+10
+1.1pp
35-44
+10
+1.5pp
45-54
+1
+0.4pp
55-64
-17
-1.8pp
65-74
+14
+0.8pp
75-84
+21
+2.3pp
85+
+47
+14.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Dorset (M). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 4 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 10 | 3.2% | 1.1% | -6 | -1.9pp |
| 5-14 | 48 | 6.0% | 5.6% | 14 | 1.7% | 4.0% | +34 | +4.3pp |
| 15-19 | 11 | 3.2% | 4.9% | 11 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 20-24 | 13 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 9 | 2.8% | 3.0% | +4 | +1.5pp |
| 25-34 | 27 | 3.9% | 2.8% | 17 | 2.8% | 2.6% | +10 | +1.1pp |
| 35-44 | 17 | 2.6% | 3.3% | 7 | 1.1% | 3.5% | +10 | +1.5pp |
| 45-54 | 39 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 38 | 4.4% | 5.2% | +1 | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 72 | 6.3% | 6.9% | 89 | 8.1% | 7.1% | -17 | -1.8pp |
| 65-74 | 89 | 8.9% | 10.0% | 75 | 8.1% | 9.6% | +14 | +0.8pp |
| 75-84 | 96 | 18.1% | 18.9% | 75 | 15.8% | 18.3% | +21 | +2.3pp |
| 85+ | 105 | 48.4% | 45.1% | 58 | 33.5% | 46.2% | +47 | +14.9pp |
| Total | 514 | 7.5% | 7.3% | 399 | 6.0% | 6.7% | +115 | +1.5pp |