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 Metford, accounting for 9.9% (66 people). This share was higher than Maitland (C) (7.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 66 people and 9.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Metford - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Metford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Metford, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
8
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
8
2.9%
+2.9pp
5-14
2021 count
66
2021 rate
9.9%
Change from 2016
+9.9pp
66
9.9%
+9.9pp
15-19
2021 count
18
2021 rate
6.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
18
6.6%
+1.0pp
20-24
2021 count
22
2021 rate
6.3%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
22
6.3%
+6.3pp
25-34
2021 count
27
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
27
3.7%
+3.7pp
35-44
2021 count
21
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
21
3.5%
+3.5pp
45-54
2021 count
37
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
37
6.4%
+3.7pp
55-64
2021 count
50
2021 rate
8.6%
Change from 2016
+6.4pp
50
8.6%
+6.4pp
65-74
2021 count
51
2021 rate
11.9%
Change from 2016
+6.2pp
51
11.9%
+6.2pp
75-84
2021 count
40
2021 rate
23.8%
Change from 2016
+7.4pp
40
23.8%
+7.4pp
85+
2021 count
22
2021 rate
39.3%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
22
39.3%
-3.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+8
+2.9pp
5-14
+66
+9.9pp
15-19
+14
+1.0pp
20-24
+22
+6.3pp
25-34
+27
+3.7pp
35-44
+21
+3.5pp
45-54
+33
+3.7pp
55-64
+47
+6.4pp
65-74
+43
+6.2pp
75-84
+29
+7.4pp
85+
+13
-3.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Metford. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 8 | 2.9% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +8 | +2.9pp |
| 5-14 | 66 | 9.9% | 7.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.3% | +66 | +9.9pp |
| 15-19 | 18 | 6.6% | 5.4% | 4 | 5.6% | 4.3% | +14 | +1.0pp |
| 20-24 | 22 | 6.3% | 4.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.1% | +22 | +6.3pp |
| 25-34 | 27 | 3.7% | 2.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.3% | +27 | +3.7pp |
| 35-44 | 21 | 3.5% | 3.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.0% | +21 | +3.5pp |
| 45-54 | 37 | 6.4% | 4.6% | 4 | 2.7% | 4.3% | +33 | +3.7pp |
| 55-64 | 50 | 8.6% | 7.1% | 3 | 2.2% | 6.4% | +47 | +6.4pp |
| 65-74 | 51 | 11.9% | 10.8% | 8 | 5.7% | 9.2% | +43 | +6.2pp |
| 75-84 | 40 | 23.8% | 20.2% | 11 | 16.4% | 19.3% | +29 | +7.4pp |
| 85+ | 22 | 39.3% | 49.3% | 9 | 42.9% | 48.0% | +13 | -3.6pp |
| Total | 365 | 7.8% | 6.7% | 43 | 4.3% | 5.8% | +322 | +3.5pp |