AgeTech and caregiving visionary Ezra Schwartz recently predicted the challenges and opportunities facing the home care industry over the coming decade.
His LinkedIn post about the future of home care offered a treasure trove of predictions that should help companies and longevity experts prepare for what’s next. Here’s what Ezra Schwartz had to say:
The Home Care Industry is on the Brink of a Seismic Shift
Over the next decade, the challenges facing home-care service providers will evolve exponentially, driven by technological advancements, demographic pressures, and changing workforce dynamics.
In his recent report, industry advocate Ezra Schwartz outlines this transformation, mapping the journey from operational hurdles in 2025 to a tech-dominated landscape by 2035.
For those of us here at Aging Today, this report serves as a reasonable roadmap for understanding the future of home care, which will demand innovation, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to human-centered care.
In 2025, Mr. Schwartz contends that the home care industry faces “five primary challenges, with only one being technology-related”:
- Staffing shortages & high turnover
- Rising operational costs
- Care coordination difficulties
- Regulatory compliance complexities
- Technology integration struggles (tech-related)
By 2035, Mr. Schwartz says that the “balance dramatically shifts to eight key challenges, with six being ‘technology-focused’:
- Aging population surge
- Workforce demographics
- Digital workforce evolution (tech-related)
- Platform economics (tech-related)
- AI/automation adoption (tech-related)
- Remote care evolution (tech-related)
- Data security (tech-related)
- Governance complexity (tech-related)
Schwartz offers compelling predictions we’re likely to face much sooner than later. For example, one of the more interesting technological developments today (generally speaking) is the intense focus on robots – humanoid or otherwise, and the effect these innovations may have on the caregiving space.
The idea that robots may enable aging adults in the home to age in place longer and more safely is a real possibility, and we’ll all have to keep an eye on this area as it evolves. The watch out for, however, is that “humanoid” doesn’t equal “human” when it comes to love, human touch, reasoning, or compassion – at least not for now…
Here are a few examples of how robots are moving from the lab into the living room:
Today’s Robots Offer Early Look at Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs
- Social Companions: Devices like ElliQ are already in thousands of homes, using generative AI to remember past conversations and provide proactive health reminders.
- Physical Assistance: Research in “soft robotics” at institutions such as Stanford University is developing flexible, skin-safe machines designed to assist with delicate tasks like bathing and dressing.
- Medical Support: Robotic pets like Jenny the dog are being certified as medical devices to provide “animal-assisted therapy” for dementia patients without the hygiene risks of live animals in care facilities.
- Domestic Logistics: By 2026, humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus or Figure are expected to begin beta testing in home environments to handle heavy lifting and basic chores.
The Ethical Maze: Privacy and the “Deception Dilemma”
As we integrate these machines, we face a new “Ethical Maze.” For those with cognitive decline, the deception dilemma is a major concern: is it ethical to let a person with dementia believe a robot is a sentient friend or a real pet?
Furthermore, the “Right to Compute” is meeting the “Right to Privacy.” Recent laws, such as Montana’s 2025 Right to Compute Act, protect the private use of AI, but we still lack a national safety framework for robots operating in the unpredictable, cluttered environments of a private home.
The Future of Home Care- Are We Already There?
The other area that demands attention is the “remote care” arena, where we can do so much more regarding aging in place and the roles caregivers and clinicians will play moving forward. With the silver tsunami upon us, the demand for care and care coordination is already stretching our limits.
As an example of staffing and budget shortages, a recent Senate debate centered on whether nursing homes should be required to have an actual nurse on-site, given that long-term care facilities are so short-staffed! I know it’s crazy to think about, but that’s our reality.
The Bottom Line: Robots vs. Human Care Costs
The shift toward robotics isn’t just about cool tech—it’s about financial survival. In 2026, the cost of a human home health aide can easily exceed $75,000 a year.
In contrast, AI care companions now cost as little as $0.30 per hour, compared to the $30+ per hour charged by human caregivers. While a full humanoid robot might require an upfront investment of around $20,000, that price point is becoming increasingly attractive for families who otherwise face six-figure nursing home bills. This “affordability gap” is a primary driver of the 14% annual growth we’re seeing in the elder care assistive robot market.
VIDEO: A Look Ahead – Robots Will Walk Into Our Homes in 2026
Is the Humanoid Robot the Final Goal?
It’s important to remember that the “future” doesn’t always look like a robot butler. Sometimes, it looks like a specialized tool we already use. For example, if you look at the RAZ Memory Cell Phone, you can see how a single-purpose device can address significant safety issues for dementia patients today.
The goal of 2035 isn’t necessarily to replace the human touch, but to use these innovative home health services to ensure that when a human is present, they are focused on “love and reasoning” rather than just the physical labor of care.
One thing you can take to the bank is that innovation isn’t slowing down anytime soon. It will only accelerate exponentially over the next decade. The future of home care lies at the intersection between technology and humanity. This will bring significant efficiencies in our lifetime, but also many challenges.
The key will be working closely with aging experts and caregiving advocates as we navigate the windy road ahead.
Chris is a seasoned healthcare executive with decades of experience and the co-founder of AgingToday.com. Chris is an expert in digital transformation, health technology and artificial intelligence. He's currently focusing on how these innovations can be leveraged to improve the lives of aging adults.
I want to buy a home healthcare robot ASAP. I have been dealing with MS for a long time. I currently live independently, but my disability has progressed to the point where I’m struggling to make transfers. I want a robot to help me, soon, before I lose my independence. Any ideas about a timeline or resources would be appreciated. Thank you.
I wish I could say sooner, but I think the mass consumer market may be realized in the next 5 years or so Phyllis. Making transfers will be a great use case for robots in the home (in support of aging-in-place), but we’ve got a ways to go yet…