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 Gloucester, accounting for 42% (74 people). This share was lower than Mid-Coast (A) (45.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 30 people and 3.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Gloucester - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Gloucester in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Gloucester, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).

Gloucester

Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.

0-4

2021 count

3

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

5-14

2021 count

15

2021 rate

4.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

15-19

2021 count

9

2021 rate

6.2%

Change from 2016

+6.2pp

20-24

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

25-34

2021 count

7

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

35-44

2021 count

13

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

45-54

2021 count

18

2021 rate

5.5%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

55-64

2021 count

38

2021 rate

8.1%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

65-74

2021 count

63

2021 rate

11.0%

Change from 2016

+3.9pp

75-84

2021 count

40

2021 rate

11.5%

Change from 2016

-2.1pp

85+

2021 count

74

2021 rate

42.0%

Change from 2016

-1.9pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Gloucester. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).

Need for assistance for Gloucester. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Need for assistance for Gloucester. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Countpp
0-432.5%1.7%53.0%1.2%-2-0.5pp
5-14154.4%5.0%144.1%4.5%+1+0.3pp
15-1996.2%4.9%00.0%4.3%+9+6.2pp
20-2400.0%5.4%00.0%5.2%00.0pp
25-3473.0%4.2%93.9%4.1%-2-0.9pp
35-44134.5%4.2%103.8%4.9%+3+0.7pp
45-54185.5%5.6%154.2%6.0%+3+1.3pp
55-64388.1%7.3%266.0%7.5%+12+2.1pp
65-746311.0%9.3%337.1%9.4%+30+3.9pp
75-844011.5%18.1%4013.6%15.6%0-2.1pp
85+7442.0%45.4%6143.9%39.1%+13-1.9pp
Total2869.1%9.0%2147.2%8.2%+72+1.9pp