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 Mount Barker (DC), accounting for 47% (348 people). This share was lower than Greater Adelaide (52.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 140 people and 1.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Mount Barker (DC) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Mount Barker (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mount Barker (DC), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Mount Barker (DC)

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

0-4

2021 count

46

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

5-14

2021 count

299

2021 rate

5.8%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

15-19

2021 count

91

2021 rate

3.9%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

20-24

2021 count

62

2021 rate

2.7%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

25-34

2021 count

119

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

35-44

2021 count

150

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

45-54

2021 count

152

2021 rate

2.9%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

55-64

2021 count

202

2021 rate

4.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

65-74

2021 count

268

2021 rate

6.4%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

75-84

2021 count

346

2021 rate

16.9%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

85+

2021 count

348

2021 rate

47.0%

Change from 2016

-2.2pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Mount Barker (DC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.

Need for assistance for Mount Barker (DC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Need for assistance for Mount Barker (DC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
0-4461.8%1.9%411.9%1.5%+5-0.1pp
5-142995.8%5.7%1904.1%4.3%+109+1.7pp
15-19913.9%4.1%622.7%2.9%+29+1.2pp
20-24622.7%2.6%371.9%1.9%+25+0.8pp
25-341192.4%2.1%812.1%1.9%+38+0.3pp
35-441503.0%2.5%982.2%2.5%+52+0.8pp
45-541522.9%3.9%1322.8%4.0%+20+0.1pp
55-642024.3%5.9%1734.1%6.0%+29+0.2pp
65-742686.4%9.4%2237.1%8.7%+45-0.7pp
75-8434616.9%20.9%20615.0%20.7%+140+1.9pp
85+34847.0%52.1%30549.2%48.1%+43-2.2pp
Total2,0845.3%6.6%1,5374.6%5.9%+547+0.7pp