Robots in Nursing Homes: Boosting Employee Retention and Enhancing Patient Care

A glimpse of the future: Robots in nursing homes - Earth.com

Robots are transforming the way nursing homes tackle critical challenges like employee turnover and a shrinking workforce in an aging world. These innovative helpers are stepping in to assist with essential care tasks, offering solutions to ease the burden on caregivers. A new study from the University of Notre Dame sheds light on the profound impact of robots on worker retention, productivity, and patient outcomes in nursing homes. The research provides important insights into the future of care. The study was led by Yong Suk Lee, an associate professor of technology, economy, and global affairs at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. While most research on robotics has focused on industrial sectors, Lee's work broke new ground by analyzing the role of robots in long-term care. The team studied data from Japanese nursing homes collected in 2020 and 2022. This setting was chosen for its relevance to the challenges faced by rapidly aging populations. "Our research focused on Japan because it is a super-aging society that provides a good example of what the future could entail elsewhere - a declining population, a growing share of senior citizens, and a declining share of working-age people," Lee explained. "We need to be ready for this new reality." By 2050, the number of U.S. residents aged 65 or older is expected to reach 88.5 million, making the study's findings particularly timely. The study identified three main types of robots commonly used in nursing homes, each designed to address specific care needs. Transfer robots assist nurses with physically demanding tasks such as lifting, moving, and rotating patients - reducing the strain on caregivers. Mobility robots enhance patients' independence by helping them move around and assisting with activities like bathing. Meanwhile, monitoring and communication robots leverage advanced technologies, including computer vision, to track patient data and relay vital information to caregivers, ensuring timely and efficient care. Lee's findings revealed that adopting these robots complemented care workers, notably by reducing quit rates, which is a significant issue in nursing homes. "Turnover is a big concern in nursing homes," Lee said. "Workers typically experience a great deal of physical pain, particularly in their knees and back. The work is hard, and the pay is low. So robot use was associated with employee retention." While robot adoption led to an overall employment increase, it also sparked changes in workforce dynamics. These changes included a higher demand for part-time, less experienced employees and a decline in demand for highly experienced workers. The research also highlighted the benefits for patients. Nursing homes with robots reported reduced use of patient restraints and fewer instances of pressure ulcers, both key indicators of patient care quality. These improvements stemmed from reducing the physical strain on workers, allowing them to focus on tasks better suited to human empathy and dexterity. "Robots can improve productivity by shifting the tasks performed by care workers to those involving human touch, empathy, and dexterity," Lee noted. "Ultimately, robots can help workers provide a higher level of patient care." Lee's study highlights the broader implications of robotics in care settings. "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations," Lee said. "It will help inform the work of the long-term care industry and help us better understand how technologies impact workers and patients." The research was co-authored with Toshiaki Iizuka from the University of Tokyo and Karen Eggleston from Stanford University. The work is part of Lee's broader exploration into how technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence influence inequality and the future of work. The study also highlights the importance of cross-institutional collaboration in addressing global challenges, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to harness technology for societal benefit. As societies worldwide prepare for the realities of aging populations, the findings offer a roadmap for integrating technology into care settings to enhance both worker and patient experiences. Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.

Using robots in nursing homes linked to higher employee retention, better patient care

Facing high employee turnover and an aging population, nursing homes have increasingly turned to robots to complete a variety of care tasks, but few researchers have explored how these technologies impact workers and the quality of care. A new study from a University of Notre Dame expert on the future of work finds that robot use is associated with increased employment and employee retention, improved productivity and a higher quality of care. The research has important implications for the workplace and the long-term care industry. Yong Suk Lee, associate professor of technology, economy and global affairs at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, was the lead author for the study, published in Labour Economics. Most studies of robots in the workplace have focused on manufacturing and the industrial sector, but Lee's research broke new ground by analyzing long-term care -- and by looking at the different types of robots used in this setting. Researchers drew on surveys of Japanese nursing homes taken in 2020 and 2022. "Our research focused on Japan because it is a super-aging society that provides a good example of what the future could entail elsewhere -- a declining population, a growing share of senior citizens and a declining share of working-age people," Lee said. "We need to be ready for this new reality." In 2022, for instance, more than 57 million U.S. residents were 65 or older, according to the National Council on Aging. The Census Bureau forecasts that by 2050, this number will grow to 88.5 million. The impact on workers In a future where there are more senior citizens requiring care, using robots in a targeted fashion could benefit workers and patients alike, Lee said. The study analyzed three types of robots that are increasingly used in assisted living facilities: "We found that robot adoption complements care workers by reducing quit rates," Lee said. "This is important because turnover is a big concern in nursing homes. Workers typically experience a great deal of physical pain, particularly in their knees and back. The work is hard and the pay is low. So robot use was associated with employee retention." While robot use was associated with an overall employment increase, Lee said, the trend seems to have helped some workers more than others: It was associated with an increased demand for part-time, less experienced employees and with less demand for more experienced workers. Improving patient care Patients benefited in facilities that have used robots, according to the study. The nursing homes that Lee's team studied reported a decrease in the use of patient restraints and in the pressure ulcers or bedsores that nursing home residents commonly suffer, largely because of a lack of mobility. Both metrics are widely used in the long-term care industry to measure patient outcomes, Lee said. By removing the physical strain associated with certain tasks, Lee said, robots may have made room for care workers to focus on tasks better suited for human beings. "Robots can improve productivity by shifting the tasks performed by care workers to those involving human touch, empathy and dexterity," Lee said. "Ultimately, robots can help workers provide a higher level of patient care." "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations" The future of work Lee co-authored the study with Toshiaki Iizuka from the University of Tokyo and Karen Eggleston from Stanford University. The study received funding from Stanford's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Japan Fund and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, as well as the Keough School's Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and Kellogg Institute for International Studies. This latest research fits into Lee's ongoing work to examine how new technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics, affect inequality and the future of work. Lee serves as program chair in technology ethics for the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, a key element of the Notre Dame Ethics Initiative. He is also a faculty affiliate of the Keough School's McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business and a faculty fellow of the school's Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Pulte Institute for Global Development and Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations," Lee said. "It will help inform the work of the long-term care industry and help us better understand how technologies impact workers and patients."

Robots in nursing homes boost employee retention, enhance patient care

Facing high employee turnover and an aging population, nursing homes have increasingly turned to robots to complete a variety of care tasks, but few researchers have explored how these technologies impact workers and the quality of care. A study by a University of Notre Dame expert on the future of work finds that robot use is associated with increased employment and employee retention, improved productivity and a higher quality of care. The research has important implications for the workplace and the long-term care industry. Yong Suk Lee, associate professor of technology, economy and global affairs at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, was the lead author for the study, published in Labour Economics. Most studies of robots in the workplace have focused on manufacturing and the industrial sector, but Lee's research broke new ground by analyzing long-term care -- and by looking at the different types of robots used in this setting. Researchers drew on surveys of Japanese nursing homes taken in 2020 and 2022. "Our research focused on Japan because it is a super-aging society that provides a good example of what the future could entail elsewhere -- a declining population, a growing share of senior citizens and a declining share of working-age people," Lee said. "We need to be ready for this new reality." In 2022, for instance, more than 57 million U.S. residents were 65 or older, according to the National Council on Aging. The Census Bureau forecasts that by 2050, this number will grow to 88.5 million. The impact on workers In a future where there are more senior citizens requiring care, using robots in a targeted fashion could benefit workers and patients alike, Lee said. The study analyzed three types of robots that are increasingly used in assisted living facilities: "We found that robot adoption complements care workers by reducing quit rates," Lee said. "This is important because turnover is a big concern in nursing homes. Workers typically experience a great deal of physical pain, particularly in their knees and back. The work is hard and the pay is low. So robot use was associated with employee retention." While robot use was associated with an overall employment increase, Lee said, the trend seems to have helped some workers more than others: It was associated with an increased demand for part-time, less experienced employees and with less demand for more experienced workers. Improving patient care Patients benefited in facilities that have used robots, according to the study. The nursing homes that Lee's team studied reported a decrease in the use of patient restraints and in the pressure ulcers or bedsores that nursing home residents commonly suffer, largely because of a lack of mobility. Both metrics are widely used in the long-term care industry to measure patient outcomes, Lee said. By removing the physical strain associated with certain tasks, Lee said, robots may have made room for care workers to focus on tasks better suited for human beings. "Robots can improve productivity by shifting the tasks performed by care workers to those involving human touch, empathy and dexterity," Lee said. "Ultimately, robots can help workers provide a higher level of patient care." "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations" The future of work Lee co-authored the study with Toshiaki Iizuka from the University of Tokyo and Karen Eggleston from Stanford University. This latest research fits into Lee's ongoing work to examine how new technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics, affect inequality and the future of work. Lee serves as program chair in technology ethics for the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, a key element of the Notre Dame Ethics Initiative. He is also a faculty affiliate of the Keough School's McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business and a faculty fellow of the school's Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Pulte Institute for Global Development and Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations," Lee said. "It will help inform the work of the long-term care industry and help us better understand how technologies impact workers and patients."

Robot use associated with increased employee retention, improved quality of care in nursing homes

University of Notre DameJan 8 2025 Facing high employee turnover and an aging population, nursing homes have increasingly turned to robots to complete a variety of care tasks, but few researchers have explored how these technologies impact workers and the quality of care. A new study from a University of Notre Dame expert on the future of work finds that robot use is associated with increased employment and employee retention, improved productivity and a higher quality of care. The research has important implications for the workplace and the long-term care industry. Yong Suk Lee, associate professor of technology, economy and global affairs at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, was the lead author for the study, published in Labour Economics. Most studies of robots in the workplace have focused on manufacturing and the industrial sector, but Lee's research broke new ground by analyzing long-term care - and by looking at the different types of robots used in this setting. Researchers drew on surveys of Japanese nursing homes taken in 2020 and 2022. Our research focused on Japan because it is a super-aging society that provides a good example of what the future could entail elsewhere - a declining population, a growing share of senior citizens and a declining share of working-age people. We need to be ready for this new reality." Yong Suk Lee, associate professor of technology, economy and global affairs at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs In 2022, for instance, more than 57 million U.S. residents were 65 or older, according to the National Council on Aging. The Census Bureau forecasts that by 2050, this number will grow to 88.5 million. The impact on workers In a future where there are more senior citizens requiring care, using robots in a targeted fashion could benefit workers and patients alike, Lee said. The study analyzed three types of robots that are increasingly used in assisted living facilities: Transfer robots, which nurses use to lift, move and rotate patients in beds and around rooms. Mobility robots, which patients use to move around and to bathe. Monitoring and communication robots, which include technologies such as computer vision and bed sensors that can monitor patient data such as movement and share it with care providers. "We found that robot adoption complements care workers by reducing quit rates," Lee said. "This is important because turnover is a big concern in nursing homes. Workers typically experience a great deal of physical pain, particularly in their knees and back. The work is hard and the pay is low. So robot use was associated with employee retention." While robot use was associated with an overall employment increase, Lee said, the trend seems to have helped some workers more than others: It was associated with an increased demand for part-time, less experienced employees and with less demand for more experienced workers. Improving patient care Patients benefited in facilities that have used robots, according to the study. The nursing homes that Lee's team studied reported a decrease in the use of patient restraints and in the pressure ulcers or bedsores that nursing home residents commonly suffer, largely because of a lack of mobility. Both metrics are widely used in the long-term care industry to measure patient outcomes, Lee said. By removing the physical strain associated with certain tasks, Lee said, robots may have made room for care workers to focus on tasks better suited for human beings. "Robots can improve productivity by shifting the tasks performed by care workers to those involving human touch, empathy and dexterity," Lee said. "Ultimately, robots can help workers provide a higher level of patient care." "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations" The future of work Lee co-authored the study with Toshiaki Iizuka from the University of Tokyo and Karen Eggleston from Stanford University. The study received funding from Stanford's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Japan Fund and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, as well as the Keough School's Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and Kellogg Institute for International Studies. This latest research fits into Lee's ongoing work to examine how new technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics, affect inequality and the future of work. Lee serves as program chair in technology ethics for the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, a key element of the Notre Dame Ethics Initiative. He is also a faculty affiliate of the Keough School's McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business and a faculty fellow of the school's Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Pulte Institute for Global Development and Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations," Lee said. "It will help inform the work of the long-term care industry and help us better understand how technologies impact workers and patients." University of Notre Dame Journal reference: Lee, Y. S., et al. (2024). Robots and Labor in Nursing Homes. Labour Economics. doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102666.

Using robots in nursing homes linked to higher emp | Newswise

Yong Suk Lee, associate professor of technology, economy and global affairs in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Facing high employee turnover and an aging population, nursing homes have increasingly turned to robots to complete a variety of care tasks, but few researchers have explored how these technologies impact workers and the quality of care. A new study from a University of Notre Dame expert on the future of work finds that robot use is associated with increased employment and employee retention, improved productivity and a higher quality of care. The research has important implications for the workplace and the long-term care industry. Yong Suk Lee, associate professor of technology, economy and global affairs at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, was the lead author for the study, published in Labour Economics. Most studies of robots in the workplace have focused on manufacturing and the industrial sector, but Lee's research broke new ground by analyzing long-term care -- and by looking at the different types of robots used in this setting. Researchers drew on surveys of Japanese nursing homes taken in 2020 and 2022. "Our research focused on Japan because it is a super-aging society that provides a good example of what the future could entail elsewhere -- a declining population, a growing share of senior citizens and a declining share of working-age people," Lee said. "We need to be ready for this new reality." In 2022, for instance, more than 57 million U.S. residents were 65 or older, according to the National Council on Aging. The Census Bureau forecasts that by 2050, this number will grow to 88.5 million. In a future where there are more senior citizens requiring care, using robots in a targeted fashion could benefit workers and patients alike, Lee said. The study analyzed three types of robots that are increasingly used in assisted living facilities: "We found that robot adoption complements care workers by reducing quit rates," Lee said. "This is important because turnover is a big concern in nursing homes. Workers typically experience a great deal of physical pain, particularly in their knees and back. The work is hard and the pay is low. So robot use was associated with employee retention." While robot use was associated with an overall employment increase, Lee said, the trend seems to have helped some workers more than others: It was associated with an increased demand for part-time, less experienced employees and with less demand for more experienced workers. Patients benefited in facilities that have used robots, according to the study. The nursing homes that Lee's team studied reported a decrease in the use of patient restraints and in the pressure ulcers or bedsores that nursing home residents commonly suffer, largely because of a lack of mobility. Both metrics are widely used in the long-term care industry to measure patient outcomes, Lee said. By removing the physical strain associated with certain tasks, Lee said, robots may have made room for care workers to focus on tasks better suited for human beings. "Robots can improve productivity by shifting the tasks performed by care workers to those involving human touch, empathy and dexterity," Lee said. "Ultimately, robots can help workers provide a higher level of patient care." Lee co-authored the study with Toshiaki Iizuka from the University of Tokyo and Karen Eggleston from Stanford University. The study received funding from Stanford's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Japan Fund and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, as well as the Keough School's Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and Kellogg Institute for International Studies. This latest research fits into Lee's ongoing work to examine how new technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics, affect inequality and the future of work. Lee serves as program chair in technology ethics for the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, a key element of the Notre Dame Ethics Initiative. He is also a faculty affiliate of the Keough School's McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business and a faculty fellow of the school's Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Pulte Institute for Global Development and Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. "This research provides critical insights into how societies can successfully navigate the challenges of caring for aging populations," Lee said. "It will help inform the work of the long-term care industry and help us better understand how technologies impact workers and patients."