Elderly-care robots of various types are not only capable of ensuring the daily care of seniors, monitoring their health conditions, and assisting with their rehabilitation training, but also providing emotional support, thus bringing great convenience to seniors.
The International Electrotechnical Commission released the world's first international standard for elderly-care robots in February this year. Led by China in its formulation, the standard sets technical benchmarks for product design, manufacturing, testing and certification for such robots.
The release of this standard not only reflects the rapid development of China's smart elderly care industry but also demonstrates the country's technical strength and global influence in the robotics sector.
An engineer calibrates an elderly-care robot at a robotics company in east China's Shandong Province, April 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, by the end of 2024, China's population aged 60 and above exceeded 300 million, accounting for 22 percent of its total population.
The emergence of elderly care robots can ease the caregiving burden on society and families while enabling elderly individuals to live a dignified life.
In Kaiping district of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province, a female senior surnamed Wang, who is bedridden due to paralysis, faces challenges in daily life. To help seniors like her, the district has introduced an Internet of Things (IoT)-based healthcare system, equipping over 300 elderly households with remote call devices, smart gateways, and other equipment, thus enabling real-time monitoring and timely responses to safety concerns.
"These devices have made my life more convenient and safer," Wang said.
Such intelligent service robots are not limited to home settings but also play vital roles in community centers and elderly care institutions.
In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) companion robots have been used in many nursing homes and communities nationwide. These robots not only engage in conversations to alleviate boredom but also offer interactive entertainment features. Some can play classic operas and oldies, helping seniors relive fond memories, while others engage them in chess or cognitive games to enhance mental agility. Through voice interaction and facial expression simulation, these robots establish emotional connections with the elderly, reducing their feelings of loneliness.
Liu Qingfeng, chairman of Chinese AI giant iFLYTEK, noted that companion robots could make their way into homes within about three years, while more advanced models capable of assisting people with limited mobility may become common in homes within around five years.
Elderly-care robots allow seniors to receive professional and efficient safety monitoring and life care in familiar environments. With continuous technological advancement, elderly-care robots are evolving from basic safety functions to providing emotional companionship, daily assistance, smart fitness, and healthy diet planning.
Additionally, elderly-care robots equipped with modern medical technology are providing strong support for tackling health challenges—a top concern for China's aging population.
In Huangyan community, Beilin district, Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, AI moxibustion robots have been introduced to provide effective treatment for seniors with shoulder periarthritis. The model, also used in pain departments of top-tier hospitals, can accurately locate acupuncture points, automatically adjust temperature and duration settings according to each individual's physical condition, and standardize various moxibustion techniques.
The robot has shown obvious therapeutic effects and reduced pressure on community healthcare workers. Seniors can operate it independently using a compact remote control to access professional physical therapy services.
A staff member introduces a medical rehabilitation robot designed to restore patients' lower limb function at Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Jiading district, Shanghai, in 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
At a nursing home in the district, an exoskeleton robot has brought hope to disabled elderly individuals. The introduction of an exoskeleton robot has transformed the life of 68-year-old Du Hong, who suffers from progressive muscle atrophy and had struggled with basic rehabilitation exercises due to prolonged wheelchair use.
"I can use the exoskeleton robot to perform rehabilitation exercises and actually walk again. It's truly amazing," Du said happily.
The development of intelligent elderly care services and smart healthcare has injected strong momentum into the elderly-care robot sector, driving the robust growth of China's silver economy.
According to a report by the Zhongyan Puhua Industry Research Institute, China's elderly-care robot market exceeded 30 billion yuan ($4.13 billion) in 2024, and is expected to reach 50 billion yuan by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of more than 30 percent.
"Elderly-care robots represent an untapped market," said Bi Yalei, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Robotics Association.
However, elderly-care robots' path into everyday households remains challenging due to technical constraints and high costs. For instance, an AI-powered elderly-care robot with conversational and online medical support features can cost over 140,000 yuan, while advanced rehabilitation models often exceed 100,000 yuan.
Industry experts recommend encouraging the development of affordable products, such as walking support devices priced under 5,000 yuan, and introducing a rental system to lower the cost barrier for households.
In the future, the integration of AI large models with IoT technologies will further improve services and promote the silver economy.
