Smart elderly care centers proliferate across Asia

In mid-March, a robot-enabled elderly care center opened in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town) in Beijing, China. The facility covers 1,100 square meters, has four floors, and deploys 43 types of robots and smart devices from 23 technology companies. The introduction of robots into elderly care facilities is expected to be gradual and unlikely to be achieved quickly.

Facility design and robot functions

The center is organized around three main functional groups: basic services, robot applications, and remodeling living spaces to be senior-friendly, forming a “technology and elder care” ecosystem.

Level 1 features an automated dining area where robots take orders and cook. The top floor is a model apartment optimized for elderly living, supported by a safety monitoring system.

Robots are used for both rehabilitation and daily activities. Exoskeleton robots support motor rehabilitation. Other examples include chess-playing robots and tea-making robots designed for light leisure activities.

On-site demonstrations

In the third-floor experiential area, Ms. Wu, who previously suffered a knee injury, highlighted devices that assist with going up and down stairs, as well as back-and-neck massage robots. Mr. Zhuang Lei, 80, said he was impressed by singing robots, massage robots, and robot dogs that perform somersaults.

Data collection and business development

According to Huo Huayu, representative of Xinggong Jujiang Smart Technology, the community-care center model provides real-world data for companies to upgrade robots, ranging from electric wheelchairs to cleaning machines. Most experiential activities are free, while meals and therapies are charged but subsidized by the government.

Robots replacing heavy and repetitive tasks

In a smart elderly care center in Ou Town, Zhejiang, robots are being used to replace heavy and repetitive tasks. The devices support functions including meal delivery, dispensing medications, aiding rehabilitation, and lifting patients, reducing the physical burden on caregivers.

At present, robots mainly handle heavy or repetitive work such as 24/7 safety monitoring, mobility assistance, lifting, and rehabilitation. This is described as an initial step in a “human–machine collaboration” model, in which robots take over part of manual labor while humans focus on communication and emotional care.

Japan’s approach to AI in elderly care

Japan has also applied AI strategies to daily life, starting with elderly care. The country has studied, manufactured, and tested a range of robots, each targeting different objectives in nursing homes.

Examples include mobility and daily-activity support robots such as HAL, designed to help elderly people move, stand up, or perform basic activities. Another example, Twendy-One, can grip objects, open refrigerators, and help patients change positions to reduce the risk of bedsores.

Exoskeleton robots support rehabilitation and mobility. Chess-playing and tea-making robots provide light recreational activities. Safety and monitoring robots include Mamoru, which uses RFID sensors (which can be integrated into footwear) to track seniors’ locations and help detect falls or disorientation. Companion and therapy robot Palro can sing and guide light exercise, while Pepper leads group activities at day care centers.

Workforce pressure and outlook

The number of foreign workers in Japan’s caregiving sector has risen in recent years but remains less than 3% of the total workforce. Takashi Miyamoto, director of Zenkoukai, a senior care facility, said: “In 10 to 15 years, the situation will be very grim. Technology is the best opportunity to prevent that.”

Safety, coordination, and future nursing services

At a Tokyo elderly care facility, small robots assist health workers by guiding seniors through exercise, while a mattress-placed sensor monitors sleep to reduce nighttime workload. Sugano, president of the Japan Robot Association, noted that as robots become more present, safety issues and the need to coordinate robot movements with individuals will become more prominent.

“If we have AI robots that can understand living conditions and individual characteristics of each person being cared for, they could provide similar nursing services in the future. I hope robots and humans can work together to improve caregiving,” Sugano said.