care & love
Sunnyvale Care Home, a 120-bed facility in upstate New York, had always prided itself on putting residents first. But by early 2023, something was breaking down. The staff—hardworking nurses and caregivers—were stretched thin, and the numbers told a worrying story: urinary tract infections (UTIs) and skin infections among bedridden residents had spiked by 35% in six months. For residents like 87-year-old Margaret, who'd suffered a stroke and couldn't move independently, these infections weren't just uncomfortable—they landed her in the hospital twice in three months.
"We were doing everything we could," says Maria Gonzalez, a charge nurse at Sunnyvale with 15 years of experience. "But between changing linens, administering meds, and helping residents with meals, there were days when deep cleaning—especially after incontinence—felt rushed. You'd wipe down the area, but maybe not as thoroughly as you should because the next call bell was already ringing."
The problem wasn't laziness; it was logistics. Sunnyvale's bedridden residents required assistance with toileting, and manual cleaning—using wipes, gloves, and disinfectant—took an average of 10–15 minutes per episode. With 20+ such incidents daily across the facility, staff were spending nearly 5 hours just on cleaning, leaving little time for other critical tasks. Worse, inconsistencies crept in: a tired caregiver at the end of a shift might cut corners, or a new hire might not follow the exact cleaning protocol. The result? Infections that felt impossible to control.
In March 2023, Sunnyvale's director, James Carter, attended a senior care conference in Boston. There, he stumbled upon a booth showcasing an incontinence cleaning robot —a compact, wheeled device designed to automatically clean and disinfect skin after episodes of incontinence. "I was skeptical at first," James admits. "How could a machine ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ the human touch? But the demo changed my mind. The robot used warm water, gentle soap, and a soft brush to clean, then dried the area with warm air and applied a protective ointment. It did it in 3 minutes flat, and the process was identical every single time."
James brought the idea back to his team. "Some nurses worried it would take away from patient care," Maria recalls. "We thought, 'Are we replacing ourselves?' But James reminded us: 'This isn't about replacing. It's about giving us the time to do the parts of the job that matter most—talking to residents, monitoring their health, noticing small changes.'"
After researching options, Sunnyvale decided to pilot two types of automated nursing & cleaning devices : the incontinence cleaning robot (dubbed "CleanCare Mini" by the manufacturer) and a larger washing care robot for full-body sponge baths. The goal was simple: reduce infection rates by standardizing cleaning, free up staff time, and improve resident comfort.
The first step was training. The manufacturer sent a trainer to Sunnyvale for a week, teaching staff how to operate the robots, clean their components, and troubleshoot minor issues. "At first, it felt like learning to use a new phone," says Carlos Mendez, a certified nursing assistant (CNA). "You had to input the resident's size, adjust the settings for sensitive skin, and make sure the robot was positioned correctly. But after a day or two, it became second nature."
Residents, too, needed time to adjust. "Margaret was nervous at first," Maria says. "She'd say, 'I don't want a machine touching me.' But we let her watch a demo on a doll first, then had her hold my hand while we tried it. After the first use, she smiled and said, 'That was gentler than some of the humans!'"
Challenges arose. The CleanCare Mini needed to be charged overnight, and once, a robot's sensor malfunctioned, causing it to stop mid-clean. "We had a backup plan—manual cleaning—so no one was left waiting," James explains. "But we also worked with the manufacturer to ｕｐｄａｔｅ the software, and those kinks got ironed out quickly."
Perhaps the biggest surprise? How much residents preferred the robots. "With manual cleaning, you're using wipes that can feel cold or rough," says Thomas Wright, 79, who's been bedridden at Sunnyvale since a fall in 2022. "The robot uses warm water and a soft brush—it's like a little spa treatment. And it's faster! I don't feel like I'm keeping the nurse from other people anymore."
Sunnyvale tracked data for six months after implementing the robots. The results, shared in a staff meeting in September 2023, left everyone stunned:
| Metric | Before Robots (Jan-Feb 2023) | After Robots (Jul-Aug 2023) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTI Cases (Monthly) | 12 | 4 | -67% |
| Skin Infections (Monthly) | 8 | 2 | -75% |
| Time Spent on Cleaning (Daily) | 4.5 hours | 1.2 hours | -73% |
| Staff Burnout Score (1-10) | 8.2 | 5.1 | -38% |
"I didn't expect the numbers to ｄｒｏｐ that dramatically," James says. "The UTI rate alone was a game-changer. We went from admitting 1–2 residents to the hospital monthly for infections to almost none. And the staff? They're less stressed, more present. Maria told me she now has time to sit with Margaret and listen to her stories—something she hadn't done in years."
For Carlos, the biggest win is consistency. "Before, if I had a tough morning, I might not clean as thoroughly. Now, the robot does the same exact job every time. It's like having a second set of hands that never gets tired."
Residents also reported higher satisfaction. In a survey, 85% said they felt "cleaner and more comfortable" with the robots, and 90% appreciated that staff had more time to interact with them. "I used to dread bath time because it took so long and felt awkward," Thomas says. "Now, the bedridden elderly care robot does it quickly, and then Maria stays to chat. It's made a world of difference in my mood."
The impact of the care robot implementation went beyond just lower infection rates. Sunnyvale's insurance costs dropped as hospital admissions decreased, freeing up budget for other upgrades—like new mattresses and a therapy room. Staff retention improved, too; in the six months after the robots arrived, only one nurse left, compared to five in the previous six months.
"It's not just about the robots," Maria reflects. "It's about what they allow us to do. When you're not rushing from one cleaning task to the next, you can actually care for the whole person. Last week, I noticed Mr. Henderson was quieter than usual during his sponge bath. Instead of hurrying, I sat with him and asked what was wrong. Turns out he was in pain from a toothache—something we might have missed before."
James is now exploring expanding the program. "We're looking into adding a washing care robot for residents who can't get out of bed but want a full bath. And we're talking to the manufacturer about a model that can disinfect wheelchairs and bed rails automatically. The goal is to make Sunnyvale not just a place where people are cared for, but where they thrive."
Sunnyvale's story isn't about replacing human caregivers with machines. It's about using technology to amplify their impact. The incontinence cleaning robot and other automated devices didn't take away the "human touch"—they gave staff the time and energy to focus on the parts of care that only humans can provide: empathy, connection, and attention to detail.
"I used to think robots in care were cold and impersonal," Maria says. "But now I see them as tools that let us be more human. When you're not exhausted from cleaning, you can laugh with a resident, hold their hand, or just sit quietly. That's the heart of caregiving—and that's what the robots helped us get back."
As for Margaret? She's infection-free and thriving. "I still need help with most things," she says with a smile, "but now, when Maria comes in, she's not just here to clean. She's here to listen. And that? That's the best medicine of all."