In Tokyo, an AI-driven robot named AIREC demonstrated its caregiving abilities by assisting with patient movements—a crucial task in elderly care. Developed with government funding, AIREC is a potential solution to Japan’s rapidly aging population and severe caregiver shortage.
Japan faces a declining birth rate, a shrinking workforce, and restrictive immigration policies, exacerbating the need for elderly care workers, reports Reuters.
By the end of 2024, all post-war baby boomers turned at least 75, further straining the sector. In December, Japan’s nursing sector had one applicant for every 4.25 available jobs, far worse than the national average. While foreign workers have joined the field, they still make up less than 3 percent of the workforce.
Faced with this crisis, elderly care providers are turning to technology. Some facilities already use AI-powered robots for minor tasks like leading exercises, while sleep sensors under mattresses help monitor residents at night.
However, fully autonomous caregiving robots remain in development. AIREC, capable of assisting with sitting up, dressing, and cooking, is not expected to be ready for practical use until 2030, with an estimated cost of at least 10 million yen ($67,000).
Despite these challenges, experts remain hopeful. Care worker Takaki Ito believes robots could enhance caregiving but stresses that human oversight remains essential. "The future lies in robots and humans working together to improve nursing care," he said.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
