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AI could ease home care worker shortages, new research finds

However, the study stresses that safeguards are essential

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Mark Huffman
Reporter

Mark Huffman has covered consumer issues since 2004, with a special focus on protecting and empowering older adults. A former news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One, and ConsumerAffairs, Mark brings decades of journalistic experience to RetirementLiving.com. He is passionate about giving consumers a voice and helping them make informed decisions. Mark has also created educational content, including Senior Scam Alert, a video resource designed to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud. He holds a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and lives with his family in Richmond, Virginia.

Updated:

key insights:

  • New NCOA research says artificial intelligence could help meet surging demand for home care by reducing paperwork, improving safety, and streamlining operations.
  • The report warns that privacy, bias, inaccurate AI outputs, and excessive automation could jeopardize care if strong safeguards are not in place.
  • Researchers conclude AI should augment — not replace — human caregivers, emphasizing that personal relationships remain central to quality home care.

As demand for home-based care grows alongside America’s aging population, artificial intelligence could help relieve pressure on caregivers and improve services — but only if it is deployed carefully and with appropriate oversight. That’s the conclusion of recent research from the National Council on Aging (NCOA). 

The three-report series, A New Era of Care, examines how AI is already being used in home- and community-based care for older adults and people with disabilities, while outlining the risks that policymakers, care providers, and technology developers must address before the technology becomes more widespread.

The report comes as demand for home care continues to outpace the available workforce. According to NCOA, nearly 63 million family caregivers and more than 3.2 million paid home care workers currently provide support across the United States. The sector continues to struggle with low wages and high employee turnover, creating challenges for maintaining quality care.

Some AI is already in place

Researchers found that many providers are already putting AI to work in practical ways.

Some organizations are using AI-powered sensors, fall-detection systems, and predictive analytics to improve safety and monitor clients living independently. 

Others are employing AI to automate administrative tasks such as scheduling, hiring, staff training, communication among care teams, reporting, and insurance claims processing.

“When implemented well, AI can give home care workers more time to focus on people rather than paperwork,” Nicole Howell, director of Direct Care Workforce Development at NCOA, said in a statement. She added that continued investment in workforce training and job quality remains essential to ensuring caregivers can provide high-quality care. 

But the report stresses that AI adoption carries significant risks if deployed without proper safeguards.

Concerns

Among the biggest concerns are protecting sensitive health and personal information, ensuring informed consent for data collection, and preventing inaccurate AI-generated recommendations that could harm patients or waste caregivers’ time. 

Researchers also warn that AI systems may perform unevenly for older adults, people with disabilities, or rural populations if they are trained on biased or incomplete data. 

The report also cautions against relying too heavily on automation. Researchers say excessive dependence on AI could weaken the human judgment, personal relationships, and autonomy that are central to effective caregiving. 

Poorly designed systems may also increase stress for workers rather than reduce it, while errors could expose providers to HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid, labor, and contractual compliance risks. 

Rather than replacing caregivers, the researchers argue that AI should serve as a tool that supports them by reducing administrative burdens and enhancing safety while preserving the human connection that patients depend on.