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 Unley (C), accounting for 61.6% (969 people). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (52.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 88 people, while its share fell by 1.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Unley (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Unley (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

16

2021 rate

1.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

5-14

2021 count

120

2021 rate

2.8%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

15-19

2021 count

38

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

20-24

2021 count

42

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

25-34

2021 count

61

2021 rate

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

35-44

2021 count

64

2021 rate

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

45-54

2021 count

110

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

55-64

2021 count

127

2021 rate

2.7%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

65-74

2021 count

301

2021 rate

6.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

75-84

2021 count

543

2021 rate

20.9%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

85+

2021 count

969

2021 rate

61.6%

Change from 2016

+4.2pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Unley (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Need for assistance for Unley (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
0-4161.0%1.9%171.0%1.5%-10.0pp
5-141202.8%5.7%872.1%4.3%+33+0.7pp
15-19381.8%4.1%301.4%2.9%+8+0.4pp
20-24421.8%2.6%251.0%1.9%+17+0.8pp
25-34611.3%2.1%541.1%1.9%+7+0.2pp
35-44641.3%2.5%551.1%2.5%+9+0.2pp
45-541102.2%3.9%1332.7%4.0%-23-0.5pp
55-641272.7%5.9%1743.7%6.0%-47-1.0pp
65-743016.8%9.4%2496.9%8.7%+52-0.1pp
75-8454320.9%20.9%45522.7%20.7%+88-1.8pp
85+96961.6%52.1%94057.4%48.1%+29+4.2pp
Total2,4046.2%6.6%2,2235.9%5.9%+181+0.3pp