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 Playford (C), accounting for 9.7% (1,468 people). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (5.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 546 people and 2.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Playford (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Playford (C) 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 Playford (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Playford (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

210

2021 rate

2.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

5-14

2021 count

1,468

2021 rate

9.7%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

15-19

2021 count

406

2021 rate

6.6%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

20-24

2021 count

320

2021 rate

4.6%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

25-34

2021 count

546

2021 rate

3.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

35-44

2021 count

577

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

45-54

2021 count

834

2021 rate

7.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

55-64

2021 count

1,123

2021 rate

10.3%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

65-74

2021 count

1,123

2021 rate

15.6%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

75-84

2021 count

1,016

2021 rate

26.0%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

85+

2021 count

753

2021 rate

47.8%

Change from 2016

-2.0pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Playford (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Need for assistance for Playford (C). 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
0-42102.8%1.9%2072.7%1.5%+3+0.1pp
5-141,4689.7%5.7%9227.1%4.3%+546+2.6pp
15-194066.6%4.1%3065.1%2.9%+100+1.5pp
20-243204.6%2.6%2543.7%1.9%+66+0.9pp
25-345463.5%2.1%4403.2%1.9%+106+0.3pp
35-445774.5%2.5%5144.8%2.5%+63-0.3pp
45-548347.4%3.9%8247.3%4.0%+10+0.1pp
55-641,12310.3%5.9%1,01911.0%6.0%+104-0.7pp
65-741,12315.6%9.4%88914.8%8.7%+234+0.8pp
75-841,01626.0%20.9%86824.1%20.7%+148+1.9pp
85+75347.8%52.1%65849.8%48.1%+95-2.0pp
Total8,3738.4%6.6%6,8987.7%5.9%+1,475+0.7pp