Improve Staff Retention With Automated Cleaning Technology

For Lisa, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at a mid-sized assisted living facility in Ohio, the phrase "routine cleaning" used to feel like a misnomer. What others might imagine as wiping surfaces or tidying rooms was, for her, a daily marathon of physically and emotionally draining tasks. "I'd start my shift at 7 AM, and by 9 AM, I'd already spent an hour helping Mr. Thompson, who's bedridden, change his linens after an incontinence episode," she recalls. "Then there was Mrs. Garcia, who needs assistance with bathing—another 45 minutes of bending, lifting, and scrubbing. By lunch, my shoulders ached, my gloves felt permanently glued to my hands, and I'd barely had time to sit down. By the end of the week, I was so exhausted I'd come home and cry. I loved the residents, but I questioned if I could keep doing this."

Lisa's story isn't unique. In care facilities across the country, manual cleaning—especially for bedridden or incontinent patients—has become a silent driver of staff burnout and turnover. According to a 2024 survey by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, CNAs and nurses report spending up to 35% of their shifts on cleaning-related tasks, from changing soiled linens to assisting with personal hygiene. These tasks are often repetitive, physically strenuous (think: lifting heavy mattresses, bending over beds for extended periods), and emotionally taxing. "It's not just the physical work," says Dr. Maya Patel, a healthcare workforce researcher. "It's the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of 'unseen' labor. Staff join care to connect with patients, to make a difference—but when they're spending hours cleaning instead of talking, laughing, or providing comfort, that purpose fades. And when purpose fades, retention plummets."

The numbers back this up. The average turnover rate for CNAs in long-term care is a staggering 55% annually, according to the American Health Care Association. While factors like low pay and scheduling issues play a role, many staff cite "unmanageable workloads" and "emotional exhaustion from cleaning tasks" as top reasons for leaving. For facilities, this turnover isn't just a human loss—it's a financial one. Replacing a single CNA costs an estimated $5,000 to $8,000 in hiring, training, and onboarding. Multiply that by double-digit turnover rates, and the cost becomes unsustainable. So, what if the solution isn't just higher pay or better schedules? What if it's rethinking the work itself—starting with the tasks that drain staff the most?

Enter automated cleaning technology—a category that's evolving far beyond basic floor vacuums. Today's tools are designed specifically for the unique challenges of care settings, where precision, gentleness, and respect for patient dignity matter as much as efficiency. Take the incontinence cleaning robot , for example. Unlike traditional methods that require staff to manually clean, dry, and reposition a patient, these compact devices glide under the bed, use warm water and soft brushes to clean the patient's skin, and then blow warm air to dry—all while the patient remains comfortably in bed. "It's like having a silent helper," says Raj, a facility administrator who implemented the technology last year. "Our CNAs used to spend 25 minutes per patient on incontinence care. Now? It takes 5 minutes, and the robot does 90% of the work. The staff can step back, monitor, and focus on talking to the patient instead of scrubbing."

Then there's the washing care robot —a game-changer for bathing assistance. For patients who can't leave their beds, traditional bathing involves awkwardly maneuvering a basin, towels, and soap, often leaving both the patient and staff feeling frustrated. A washing care robot, by contrast, uses a soft, waterproof pad that slides under the patient, delivering warm water and mild soap through tiny jets, then suctioning away moisture. "Mrs. Lopez used to dread bath time because it hurt her joints to be lifted," says Maria, a nurse who works with Raj. "Now, the robot does the work. She lies comfortably, I sit next to her and hold her hand, and we chat about her grandchildren. Bath time went from a chore to a bonding moment. That's the difference."

Perhaps most impactful is the bedridden elderly care robot , which combines multiple functions: linen changing, pressure sore prevention, and basic cleaning. Imagine a device that can automatically lift a patient slightly to change soiled sheets without requiring staff to manually hoist them—a task that often leads to back injuries. "We had a CNA, Jamie, who left work early three times in one month because of back pain from lifting," Raj recalls. "After we got the bedridden care robot, he told me, 'I don't wake up dreading work anymore. My back doesn't ache, and I actually have time to ask residents how they're feeling.'" For staff, these technologies aren't just tools—they're partners. They handle the repetitive, physically demanding parts of the job, freeing up humans to do what robots can't: connect, empathize, and care.

Choosing the right automated cleaning tools depends on your facility's needs, patient population, and budget. To help, we've compiled a breakdown of the most common technologies and their real-world impact:

The key takeaway? These technologies aren't just about saving time—they're about restoring staff's sense of purpose. When CNAs and nurses aren't bogged down by cleaning, they can focus on the work that drew them to care in the first place: building relationships, providing emotional support, and improving patient quality of life. And when staff feel valued and able to do their best work, they stay.

At Green Valley Assisted Living in Oregon, the results spoke for themselves. Before implementing automated cleaning tech, the facility struggled with a 60% annual CNA turnover rate. "We were constantly hiring, training, and retraining," says administrator Sarah. "Residents hated it—they'd bond with a CNA, then that CNA would leave. Staff hated it too—they felt overworked and unappreciated." In 2023, Green Valley invested in a combination of incontinence cleaning robots and washing care robots. Within six months, turnover dropped to 28%. "It wasn't magic," Sarah says. "It was giving staff the tools to do their jobs without breaking their bodies or spirits. One CNA told me, 'I used to go home and cry because I couldn't keep up. Now I go home and talk about how Mrs. Patel taught me to knit today.' That's the difference."

Similarly, at Pine Ridge Skilled Nursing in Texas, staff retention improved by 40% after introducing bedridden elderly care robots. "We tracked staff surveys before and after," explains director Mike. "Before, 78% of CNAs said 'physical exhaustion' was their top stressor. After? That number dropped to 22%. And 90% said they felt 'more valued' because the facility invested in tools to make their lives easier." For Mike, the ROI was clear: "We spent $50,000 on the robots, but we saved over $100,000 in turnover costs in the first year alone. Plus, residents are happier—they have consistent caregivers, and staff have more time to engage with them. It's a win-win."

To be clear, automated cleaning technology isn't a silver bullet. Staff retention requires a holistic approach: fair wages, flexible scheduling, and a workplace culture that prioritizes wellbeing. But technology can be the foundation. When staff no longer dread the "grunt work" of cleaning, they're more open to engaging in team-building, training, and other initiatives that strengthen job satisfaction. "It's about respect," says Dr. Patel. "When a facility invests in tools that make staff's lives easier, it sends a message: 'We see you. We value you.' That message is powerful. It turns a job into a career."

So, if you're struggling with turnover, start by asking your staff: "What tasks drain you the most?" Chances are, cleaning will top the list. Then, explore how technologies like incontinence cleaning robots, washing care robots, or bedridden elderly care robots can lighten that load. The investment isn't just in a machine—it's in the people who show up every day to care for others. And when you invest in them, they'll invest in your facility, too.

For Lisa, the CNA in Ohio, the change came last year when her facility introduced a washing care robot. "I'll never forget the first time I used it with Mrs. Garcia," she says. "Instead of rushing to bathe her before my next task, I sat with her, held her hand, and listened to her talk about her childhood in Mexico. She smiled—really smiled—for the first time in weeks. That's why I became a CNA. And now, thanks to the robot, I get to do that every day. I'm not leaving. Not ever."