7.3 per cent of the community requires assistance with core activities, this represents 387 people.

The number of people requiring assistance with core activities has increased from 167 people in 2011 to 290 in 2016 and 387 in 2021. This represents a significant increase of 131.7 per cent in the proportion of the community that requires assistance between 2011 and 2021.

In addition, the number of people that have 'not stated' a need for assistance has decreased mostly over time from 6.4 per cent (303 people) in 2011 to 6.5 per cent (328 people) in 2016, before reducing to 4.7 per cent (250 people) in 2021.

The largest proportion of people that required assistance with core activities in 2021 was those aged 75-84, 85+ and those aged 5-14. Those aged 85 and over, represented 21.2 per cent of those needing care or 82 people. While community members aged 75-84 represented 17.1 per cent (66 people) of those needing support in 2021. People aged 5-14 represented 15 per cent of community members needing support or 58 people.

There were changes across all age brackets between 2021 and 2011, the largest increase was seen in the number of people needing support aged 85 and over. Increasing from 16 (6.9 per cent of people needing support) in 2011 to 71 (24 per cent of people needing support) 2016, increasing to 82 people or 21.2 per cent of those needing support in 2021. The second largest increase was seen in the number of people aged 5-14 that need support with core activities, increasing from 13 people (7.8 per cent of those needing support) to 28 people or 10 per cent of those needing support in 2016 compared to 58 people or of 15 per cent of community members needing support.

There are 369 people providing unpaid assistance to a person with a disability, health condition or due to old age in the New Auckland area. There has been an increase of 87 people providing unpaid assistance between 2021 and 2011.

Over 60 per cent of community members providing unpaid assistance to a person with a disability health condition or due to old age in New Auckland are aged 35-64. In addition, those aged 55-64 make up 22.8 per cent of community members that provide assistance alongside the 21.4 per cent aged 35-44 and those aged 45-54 which make up 20.9 per cent of those providing assistance.

Considerations:

• The age of the population needing support is increasing as is the age of those providing support. Consideration needs to be given to the types of services, programs and activities that are needed.
• New Auckland has a diverse community and consideration needs to be given to social planning and culturally appropriate services for the ageing community.
• There is an increasing proportion of the community that need assistance. Consideration should be given to how this section of the community can be actively involved in the design of buildings, places and services to ensure the gold standard of accessibility.