We have been desensitized to robotics as caregivers for some time now. From Rosie the faithful companion to the Jetsons, Odi in the TV show Humans, Data from Star Trek, Baymax (Big Hero 6) and of course R2D2 and C3PO (do I have to name the movie franchise?). Most, if not all, were futurist fantasies of the better upsides, the wish list of how robotics and humanoids can support human beings in all walks of life and in a variety of human forms and functions. Yes, there are downsides: T-800, Roy Batty, the rogue Nexus-6 Humanoid. There was also AVA from Ex Machina, of course, the Machines and Agents in the Matrix franchise, and who can forget the Gunslinger in Westworld. We have imagined examples of good and evil that could result from humanoid and robotic personal assistants.

But with demographic shifts, aging population, catastrophic shortages in the direct care workforce, and straining healthcare systems worldwide, robotics is emerging as a transformative solution to the personal care crisis. Replacing human caregivers is far from a reality; recent evidence suggests that robots are becoming essential partners in care delivery. The results of landmark studies completed point to unexpected benefits for direct care workers and care recipients. The surprising results also demonstrate broader applications in disability care.

Why its important

The data has been abundantly clear for the past several years that the direct care workforce is in crisis. Factors driving the challenges to this workforce include increased demand, low pay, worker overload, burnout, and workplace strain and injury. All of which create major problems nationwide in the supply of qualified people who make their living providing personal care across the range of human needs. Retention of good staff has been a significant barrier to the continuity of care in many caregiving environments. A multitude of strategies aimed at directly supporting workforce retention and improvement have been used. These strategies include increases in hourly wages, better opportunities for training and learning, a title change from direct care worker to direct support professional, and the establishment of a DSP credentialing pathway. Despite these efforts, the crisis in the direct care workforce persists.

Now, in 2025, with the enhanced technology, the quality, and the breadth and depth of growth in the robotics industry have engendered a degree of fear that robotics would be a massive revolution in the human workforce, resulting in the displacement and elimination of human workers across multiple service sectors, including healthcare and disability care. The findings from recent robotics research pilot projects, however, challenge the idea of worker-displacement.  

Studies examining the implementation of robotics in nursing homes in Japan have shown decreases in staff turnover, which have been directly attributed to the technology's ability to reduce caregivers' physical strain. According to the studies, robot use is associated with increased employment and employee retention, improved productivity, and higher-quality care. This counterintuitive outcome reflects the reality that robots can handle routine tasks, allowing human staff to focus on higher-value, relationship-based care activities.

The mechanism appears straightforward: by reducing the physical and repetitive burden on caregivers, robots make nursing home jobs more sustainable and satisfying. Workers experience less burnout, stay in their positions longer, and can dedicate more time to meaningful interactions with residents. This creates a positive feedback loop in which better-staffed facilities can provide higher-quality care, further improving job satisfaction and retention rates.

Additional areas where robotics may have an impact include patient engagement in skilled nursing facilities. Studies demonstrate that, co-occurring with the decreasing supply of direct care workers, is the increasing demand that stems from the expanding aging adult population. Robotics is proving in some instances to be an adequate supplement to the availability of caregivers for the social and cognitive needs of older adults. A 2024 study demonstrates robotics' ability to meet the needs of older adults in long-term care facilities. The study shows that health-directed robotics mirrors clinical interventions, including structured interactions and specialized memory care and rehabilitation. Because many skilled nursing facilities also support people with various disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, the implications of recent experimentation and exploration of the use of robotics in SNF reach across system boundaries into potential application in the HCBS system that supports the IDD population.

Challenges

Robocare is not a panacea. There are significant challenges, and yet-to-be-seen or determined pitfalls. Acceptance or resistance may differ across cultural settings and communities; cost will always be a barrier; and substantive discussion will be needed to address issues such as reimbursement rates for providers and the impact of integrating robotics care on DSP pay rates or compensation for paid family caregivers. Other challenges include regulatory frameworks, liability issues, and safety standards. We have all seen iRobot.

At the end of the day…

The growing evidence suggests that robotics in elder care environments does not necessarily represent a replacement of human workers but rather a fascinating evolution in personal care models. The transition into IDD care represents the next step in the evolution of “robocare.” Although the early evidence suggests that robocare may address some of the ongoing challenges in the DSP workforce, success will depend on purposeful implementation that prioritizes human dignity, individual choice, and the irreplaceable value of human connection in caregiving. The track record on that is sketchy.