As the global population ages at an unprecedented rate, innovative AI-powered robots are stepping in to address the mounting eldercare challenge that threatens healthcare systems worldwide.
In Japan, where nearly 30% of the population is now 65 or older, researchers at Waseda University have developed AIREC (AI-driven Robot for Embrace and Care), a 150-kg humanoid robot designed to perform essential caregiving tasks. The robot can gently reposition patients to prevent bedsores, assist with dressing, prepare simple meals, and help with household chores like folding laundry.
"Given our highly advanced ageing society and declining births, we will be needing robots' support for medical and elderly care, and in our daily lives," explains Professor Shigeki Sugano, who leads the AIREC project with government funding. The sophisticated machine features pressure-sensitive fingers, advanced machine learning algorithms for personalized care, and emotion recognition systems to detect patient moods.
Meanwhile, MIT engineers have created the Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot (E-BAR), focusing specifically on mobility support and fall prevention. Unlike traditional assistive devices, E-BAR requires no harnesses or wearable components, instead functioning as a set of robotic handlebars that follows users from behind.
"Elderly people overwhelmingly do not like to wear harnesses or assistive devices," notes Roberto Bolli, E-BAR's designer at MIT. "The idea behind the E-BAR structure is, it provides body weight support, active assistance with gait, and fall catching while also being completely unobstructed in the front."
E-BAR's 220-pound wheeled base features an articulated spine of 18 linked bars that adjust in real time, with integrated airbags that inflate instantly if a fall is detected. The system has successfully supported elderly volunteers in challenging scenarios like bending down, reaching overhead, and navigating bathtubs.
Despite their promise, both robots remain in development phases. AIREC isn't expected to be ready for nursing facilities until around 2030, with an initial price tag of approximately $67,000. E-BAR is currently operated via remote control, though researchers are working to automate its functions and streamline its size.
The eldercare assistive robot market is projected to grow from $3.17 billion in 2025 to $10.23 billion by 2035, driven by aging populations, caregiver shortages, and advances in AI-based robotics. As these technologies mature, experts envision a future where robots and human caregivers collaborate to provide comprehensive support for the elderly.
"I think eldercare is the next great challenge," says Bolli. "All the demographic trends point to a shortage of caregivers, a surplus of elderly persons, and a strong desire for elderly persons to age in place."