Amid rising employee turnover and an ageing population, nursing homes are increasingly adopting robotic technologies to perform various caregiving tasks. However, the implications of such technological integration on workforce dynamics and care quality remain underexplored.
A groundbreaking study by Yong Suk Lee, an associate professor specialising in the future of work at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, reveals significant associations between robot utilisation and improved employment rates, employee retention, and care quality. Published in Labour Economics, the study sets a new precedent by focusing on the long-term care sector rather than the more commonly studied manufacturing and industrial sectors. It bases its findings on comprehensive surveys conducted across Japanese nursing homes in 2020 and 2022.
The research highlights Japan as a pivotal case study due to its ‘super-aging’ society, characterised by a shrinking workforce and a growing proportion of elderly citizens. Lee emphasises the need to prepare for similar demographic shifts globally, noting that the U.S. Census Bureau projects the population of Americans aged 65 or older to increase from 57 million in 2022 to 88.5 million by 2050.
Lee’s study delineates three main types of robots utilised in assisted living settings: transfer robots that help in moving and repositioning patients; mobility robots that aid patients in moving and bathing independently; and monitoring and communication robots that use advanced technologies like computer vision to track and relay patient data to caregivers. Adopting these robots not only mitigates physical strain on workers, mainly by reducing injuries associated with manual patient handling, but also reduces employee turnover by alleviating job-related physical distress.
Interestingly, the employment landscape in these facilities has shifted towards hiring more part-time and less experienced staff while demand for more seasoned employees has decreased. This suggests that robot integration may be reshaping job profiles in the sector.
The benefits extend to patient care as well. Facilities that have incorporated robotic assistance report fewer instances of using physical restraints and a decrease in pressure ulcers among residents—common issues in nursing homes due to limited mobility. By reducing the physical demands of caregiving, robots enable care workers to focus more on aspects of care that require human empathy and interaction, thus enhancing overall patient care quality.
This research underscores the potential of robots to transform long-term care by boosting productivity and shifting tasks towards those that benefit most from human skills. The insights provided by this study are crucial for understanding how advanced technologies can be harnessed to address the challenges of ageing populations.
The study was a collaborative effort involving Toshiaki Iizuka of the University of Tokyo and Karen Eggleston of Stanford University, supported by various research institutes and funding bodies, including Stanford’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. This research is part of Lee’s broader exploration into the effects of new technologies on social inequality and the future of work, aligning with his roles at Notre Dame and contributions to the field of technology ethics.
In summary, this research contributes to academic discourse. It provides practical insights to help the long-term care industry adapt to an increasingly technological future, ensuring improved worker welfare and superior patient outcomes.
More information: Yong Suk Lee et al, Robots and labor in nursing homes, Labour Economics. DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102666
Journal information: Labour Economics Provided by University of Notre Dame