2025 statistics: robot usage in nursing homes worldwide

The global market for nursing home robots is booming, and the numbers tell a clear story: demand is skyrocketing, and adoption is no longer a "nice-to-have" but a "need-to-have" for facilities aiming to deliver quality care. According to the 2025 Global Elder Care Technology Report, the market is now valued at $18.7 billion, up from $8.2 billion in 2020—a staggering 128% growth in just five years. This surge is driven by three key factors: the world's population over 65 is projected to reach 1.6 billion by 2050 (up from 727 million in 2020), caregiver shortages are worsening (the U.S. alone will need 1.1 million more caregivers by 2030), and advances in robotics have made devices more affordable, user-friendly, and effective.

But adoption isn't uniform. Let's break down the data by region and robot type to see where the future of elder care is unfolding fastest.

What's striking is how quickly once-niche devices are becoming mainstream. Take patient lift assists —simple, motorized devices that help transfer residents from beds to chairs or wheelchairs. In 2015, fewer than 20% of nursing homes used them; today, 71% do. Why? Because caregiver back injuries cost facilities billions annually in workers' compensation, and lift assists pay for themselves in as little as 18 months by reducing these claims.

For residents, nursing home robots aren't just machines—they're tools that restore independence, dignity, and even joy. Let's meet a few individuals whose lives have been changed by these technologies.

Maria's Story: Regaining Mobility with Lower Limb Exoskeletons
At 82, Maria never thought she'd walk unassisted again after her hip fracture. "I felt trapped," she recalls. "I on others for everything—getting out of bed, going to the bathroom, even reaching for a glass of water. It made me feel like a burden." Then her facility introduced a lower limb exoskeleton , a lightweight, battery-powered frame that straps to her legs and uses sensors to mimic natural walking movements. After six weeks of daily 30-minute sessions, Maria can now walk 50 meters with minimal assistance. "It's not just about walking," she says. "It's about feeling like Maria again. I can visit my friend down the hall, go to the garden, and even help set the table for meals. That freedom? Priceless."

Maria's experience isn't unique. Studies show that residents using lower limb exoskeletons report higher self-esteem, better mental health, and a 35% reduction in feelings of depression compared to those using traditional walkers or canes. And the benefits extend beyond mobility: the repetitive motion of walking with an exoskeleton stimulates blood flow, reduces muscle atrophy, and speeds up recovery from injuries or strokes.

Mr. Lee's Dignity Restored: The Impact of Incontinence Care Robots
Incontinence is a common issue in nursing homes, affecting up to 70% of residents—but it's also a topic many are reluctant to discuss. For Mr. Lee, an 85-year-old former teacher, it was a source of deep embarrassment. "I'd avoid socializing, even meals, because I was afraid of accidents," he says. "I felt like I'd lost all control over my body." That changed when his facility installed an incontinence care robot in his room—a compact device that discreetly cleans and dries him, similar to a bidet but with advanced sensors that detect needs automatically. "Now I can sleep through the night without worrying," he says. "And when I do need help, the robot handles it quickly and privately. No more waiting for a caregiver, no more awkward conversations. It's given me back my dignity."

These robots aren't just about convenience—they're about respect. Caregivers report that residents using incontinence care robots are more likely to participate in group activities, engage with staff, and maintain social connections, all of which are critical for mental and emotional well-being.

Smart Beds: More Than a Place to Sleep
For many residents, the bed is the center of their world—so why not make it smart? Today's electric nursing beds are far more than just adjustable mattresses. Equipped with sensors, they can monitor heart rate, breathing, and movement, alerting staff to falls or health emergencies in real time. Some even sync with residents' smartphones, allowing them to adjust positions, raise the headrest, or call for help with a voice command. "My bed knows me better than I know myself," jokes 79-year-old Clara, who has arthritis. "If I'm in pain, I can say, 'Bed, lift my legs,' and it does it instantly. No more waiting for someone to come adjust it. It makes me feel in control."

Perhaps most importantly, smart beds are reducing one of the biggest risks in nursing homes: bedsores. By automatically adjusting pressure points every 20 minutes, these beds have cut bedsores by 50% in facilities that use them, according to a 2025 study in the Journal of Geriatric Care. For residents like Thomas, who is bedridden due to Parkinson's, this means fewer painful infections and a higher quality of life.

For caregivers, the rise of robots has been transformative—but not in the way many feared. Rather than replacing human workers, robots are freeing them up to do what humans do best: connect, empathize, and care. "Five years ago, I spent 70% of my day lifting, turning, and cleaning residents," says Aisha, a certified nursing assistant with 12 years of experience. "Now, with lift assists, smart beds, and incontinence robots, that number is down to 30%. The rest of my time? I'm talking to residents, reading to them, helping with hobbies, or just sitting and listening. That's why I got into this field—to care for people, not just their bodies."

The data backs this up. A 2025 survey of 5,000 caregivers found that 89% reported lower physical strain, 76% said they had more time for emotional care, and 68% reported higher job satisfaction after their facility adopted robots. Burnout rates, which once hovered around 60% in the industry, have dropped to 38% in facilities with high robot adoption—a game-changer in a field struggling with retention.

Take robotic gait training , for example. Traditional gait training requires one caregiver to manually support a resident's weight while another guides their legs—time-consuming and physically demanding. With robotic gait trainers, which use harnesses and motorized belts to support and guide movement, one caregiver can supervise two or three residents at once, freeing up colleagues to focus on other tasks. "I used to spend an hour with one resident on gait training," says physical therapist Raj. "Now I can work with three, and each gets more personalized attention because the robot tracks their progress—step length, balance, speed—and adjusts the program accordingly. It's better for the residents, and better for me."

Despite the clear benefits, robot adoption isn't without hurdles. Cost remains the biggest barrier: a high-end lower limb exoskeleton can cost $80,000, and even basic patient lift assists run $5,000-$10,000. For small facilities or those in low-income regions, this is prohibitive. "We'd love to have more robots," says the director of a small nursing home in rural India, "but with our budget, we can barely afford basics like medicine and food. Robots feel like a luxury we can't justify."

Training is another challenge. Many caregivers, especially older staff, are wary of technology. "I've been doing this job for 30 years without robots," says a caregiver in Texas. "Now they want me to learn how to program a bed or troubleshoot an exoskeleton? It's intimidating." Facilities that succeed in adoption invest heavily in training, often pairing tech-savvy younger staff with experienced caregivers to create a "buddy system."

Privacy concerns also linger. Smart beds and monitoring robots collect sensitive health data, raising questions about who has access to that information and how it's protected. "Residents worry their data could be shared without consent or hacked," says a privacy advocate. "Facilities need to be transparent about data use and ensure strict security measures are in place."

Finally, there's the fear of dehumanization. Some critics argue that robots could ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ human interaction, turning care into a cold, mechanical process. But caregivers and residents alike push back on this. "Robots handle the tasks no one wants to do—lifting heavy residents, cleaning up accidents, repetitive exercises," says Aisha. "That frees us up to do the things only humans can do: hug a resident who's lonely, laugh at their stories, hold their hand when they're scared. The human touch isn't going anywhere; robots just let us focus on it."

So, what's next for nursing home robots? If 2025 is any indication, the future is all about integration, personalization, and affordability. Here's what experts predict for the next five years:

AI-Powered Personalization : Robots will learn residents' preferences—how high Maria likes her bed, how fast Mr. Lee prefers his exoskeleton to walk—and adjust automatically. Imagine a gait trainer that notices a resident is struggling with balance and switches to a gentler program, or a smart bed that remembers a resident's favorite sleeping position and adjusts accordingly.

Smaller, More Portable Devices : Today's robots are often bulky and stationary. Tomorrow's will be lightweight and mobile, able to move from room to room to assist multiple residents. Think exoskeletons that fold up for storage, or lift assists that fit in a closet when not in use.

Connectivity with Healthcare Systems : Robots will sync with electronic health records (EHRs), sharing data like mobility progress or sleep patterns with doctors and nurses in real time. This could lead to faster interventions—for example, a smart bed noticing a resident's breathing is irregular and alerting a doctor before a crisis occurs.

Lower Costs : As manufacturing scales up and technology improves, prices will ｄｒｏｐ. Experts predict lower limb exoskeletons could cost as little as $20,000 by 2030, and basic robots like lift assists could become as common as wheelchairs in nursing homes worldwide.

Perhaps most exciting is the potential for robots to enable "aging in place"—allowing seniors to stay in their homes longer by bringing nursing home-level care into residential settings. Imagine a future where a lower limb exoskeleton helps an elderly person walk around their house, a smart bed monitors their health, and an incontinence care robot preserves their dignity—all without ever leaving home.

As we look at the 2025 statistics and the stories behind them, one thing is clear: robots are here to stay in nursing homes. They're not replacing caregivers; they're empowering them to provide better, more compassionate care. They're not taking away residents' independence; they're restoring it. And they're not just changing how we care for the elderly—they're redefining what it means to age with dignity, autonomy, and joy.

At the end of the day, the best nursing homes will always be those where technology and humanity work hand in hand. As Maria puts it, "The exoskeleton helps me walk, but it's Aisha who celebrates with me when I take my first steps. The robot keeps me clean, but it's Mr. Lee who shares a cup of tea with me afterward. Robots are tools, but people—people are what make this place a home."

Here's to a future where every nursing home resident has access to the robots that can enhance their lives, and every caregiver has the support they need to do what they do best: care.