Nursing homes are experiencing high staff turnover and a growing elder population, leading to a greater reliance on robots to handle various caregiving tasks. However, there has been limited research on how these robotic technologies affect employees and the overall quality of care provided. A recent study from a University of Notre Dame expert indicates that the use of robots may actually lead to more job opportunities, better employee retention, heightened productivity, and improved care quality.
Nursing homes are facing a shortage of staff and a rising number of elderly individuals requiring care, prompting them to increasingly utilize robots for various caregiving responsibilities. Despite this, there has been little investigation into how these technologies impact the workforce and the quality of care delivered.
The study, conducted by Yong Suk Lee—an associate professor at Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs—has been published in Labour Economics. Unlike most studies that focus on industrial settings, Lee’s research explores the long-term care sector, assessing the diverse kinds of robots implemented in such environments. The findings are based on surveys from Japanese nursing homes conducted in 2020 and 2022.
“Japan is a super-aging society that illustrates what the future might look like globally, with a declining population and an increasing elderly demographic,” Lee noted. “We must prepare for this new reality.”
In 2022, over 57 million residents in the U.S. were aged 65 or older, as reported by the National Council on Aging. The Census Bureau predicts this figure will rise to 88.5 million by 2050.
The Impact on Workers
As the demand for elderly care grows, employing robots strategically could produce positive outcomes for both staff and patients, according to Lee. The study highlighted three categories of robots that are becoming more prevalent in assisted living facilities:
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Transfer robots are utilized by nurses to help lift, move, and turn patients in their beds or throughout the facility.
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Mobility robots assist patients in moving around and during bathing.
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Monitoring and communication robots incorporate technologies such as computer vision and bed sensors to track patient movements and relay data to caregivers.
“Our study found that adopting robots helps keep care workers by lowering turnover rates,” Lee explained. “This is crucial because high turnover is a significant issue within nursing homes. Workers often endure considerable physical strain, leading to pain, particularly in the knees and back. The job is demanding, and compensation is usually low, so the use of robots is linked to improved employee retention.”
Although the adoption of robots correlated with a general increase in employment, Lee observed that this trend notably benefited certain workers more than others—specifically part-time and less experienced employees, while there was a decreased demand for seasoned workers.
Enhancing Patient Care
The study found that patients in facilities using robots experienced improvements. The nursing homes involved reported lower instances of patient restraints and pressure ulcers, conditions that many residents often face due to limited mobility. These metrics are commonly used in the long-term care field to evaluate patient results, Lee noted.
By alleviating the physical burden associated with specific tasks, robots enable caregivers to focus on activities that require human skills, such as empathy and dexterity, Lee added. “Robots can boost productivity by allowing human workers to concentrate on more sensitive, person-centered care,” he mentioned. “In the end, robots may help elevate the standard of care provided to patients.”
“This research offers essential insights into how societies can adeptly manage the challenges posed by an aging population.”
The Future of Work
Lee collaborated with Toshiaki Iizuka from the University of Tokyo and Karen Eggleston from Stanford University on this study, which received backing from various respected institutions, including Stanford’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, among others.
This research aligns with Lee’s ongoing exploration into the implications of new technologies—like AI and robotics—on inequality and the changing landscape of work. He is engaged as a program chair in technology ethics for the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, a key component of the Notre Dame Ethics Initiative. Additionally, he is affiliated with several prestigious institutes focused on human development and global affairs.
“This study is vital for understanding how to effectively navigate the complexities of caring for an aging populace,” Lee said. “It will aid in refining practices within the long-term care industry and enhance our comprehension of how technologies influence both workers and patients.”
