Care at the Limit: How Realistic Are Robots in Everyday Care?

In an interview published on February 3, 2026, in the *Siegener Zeitung*, Prof. Claudia Müller of the University of Siegen discussed the reality of robots in nursing homes. Drawing on her experience as the director of the “Be+BeRobot” research project, she discussed the current possibilities, limitations, and ethical implications of robot-assisted care as a potential solution to the severe shortage of skilled workers. Here are the key insights she shared during the interview.
Introduction The nursing crisis in Germany is worsening dramatically. The Federal Statistical Office forecasts a shortage of up to 690,000 nursing staff by the year 2049. The federal government is therefore providing 20.5 million euros in funding for the research initiative “Robotic Systems in Nursing Care.” But can machines truly replace humans? Prof. Claudia Müller of the University of Siegen, director of the “Be+BeRobot” research project, assesses the current situation.

What Robots Can Already Do Today Currently, research is focusing on various areas of application:

• Social robots: Models like “Pepper” (already in use at the Marienheim in Siegen) are designed to engage residents and help prevent social isolation. They can play music and speak, but must always be accompanied by staff.
• Transportation and logistics: Robots that transport laundry or accompany patients to X-ray appointments save staff from having to walk long distances. Self-driving nightstands are also being researched.
• Physical assistance: The University of Oldenburg is testing robotic arms that help with washing patients by holding their limbs while the caregiver washes them.

The Myth of Japan Japan is often regarded as a pioneer in care robotics, but Prof. Müller tempers those expectations. Her field research on site showed that the “robot revolution” touted there is hardly taking place in practice. According to Prof. Müller, the idea of robots lifting patients out of bed is “a big story,” but hardly a reality. Germany, however, has the opportunity to do better by directly involving nursing staff in the development process.

Limitations and Ethical Questions The technology quickly reaches its limits. “The devil is in the details,” says Prof. Müller. Variations in patients’ weight and sensitive skin require sensor technology that robotic arms cannot yet reliably provide. There are also social hurdles:

• Relationship-building: Caregivers fear that automated delivery services will eliminate important social interactions (e.g., when bringing meals).
• Ethics in dementia care: The use of robotic animals (dogs/cats) is a subject of controversy. Is it acceptable to make people with dementia believe these are real animals?

Conclusion:
Prof. Müller considers the idea of an autonomous nursing home unrealistic. “I don’t see the big breakthrough where a humanoid robot arrives and is nice to Grandma Müller,” she says. According to the expert, the real solution lies elsewhere:

• Reducing bureaucracy: The greatest potential lies in reducing documentation work through intelligent IT systems.
• Behind-the-scenes automation: Bed-making systems and digital records that automatically save measurements could take some of the burden off caregivers.

Concluding Remarks: Hands-on work with patients—washing, assisting with elimination, and communication—must remain a human task. Technology should serve one purpose above all: to create breathing room so that caregivers have more time again for actual care.