Rethinking Elder Care in the Age of Robots

For much of our history, families took care of their elderly without hesitation. Yet, it seems our modern society is drifting away from those human experiences. A columnist from The Washington Post even suggests that it might be acceptable to replace human interaction with robots in a field where human touch is often most needed.

It’s not surprising that Leana Wen, given her background, would advocate for the use of robots to help alleviate loneliness in older adults. If you’re unfamiliar with her, it’s worth noting that this isn’t her first venture into pushing for a less human approach to care.

Wen is a Chinese immigrant who found success as a doctor in the United States. She served as the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood before her departure just eight months later. Gaining national attention during the pandemic, she frequently appeared on mainstream media platforms, promoting stringent policies to manage COVID-19, framing vaccinations as a civic responsibility, and advocating for considerable restrictions and mandates until late 2022. It wasn’t until then that her public stance began to evolve, much like other left-leaning commentators.

Advocating for robots in elder care aligns with the perspectives of someone who pushed for heightened COVID fears. However, just because Wen is making these claims doesn’t mean we should accept them as the new norm. There needs to be pushback.

Grace Brown, head of Andromeda Robotics, shared in Wen’s column that many individuals interacting with a robot called Abi refer to it as if it were a grandchild entering the room. It’s a curious statement—and concerning too.

Isolation among seniors is indeed a pressing issue. According to AARP’s 2025 study, around 40 percent of adults aged 45 and older describe feeling lonely. This figure has risen from 35 percent in previous studies. For those in their sixties, loneliness climbed to 41 percent in 2025, up from 32 percent just over a decade prior.

These statistics reflect real human pain, but the roots of this issue aren’t just an inevitable part of aging. They arise from choices that keep families apart, and the responsibility to mend this rift lies squarely with families stepping back into caregiving roles.

Introducing robots into senior care signifies a significant departure from the traditional family caregiving model. Older adults truly need ongoing, personal interaction with individuals who know and care for them deeply. Machines simply cannot replicate that connection. In fact, suggesting they could indicates a disturbing trend in how we value our most vulnerable members.

What troubles me the most is how it seems that Wen and others might have given up on expecting more from each other. Families have taken on the duty of caring for their elderly for centuries—a vital part of nurturing familial bonds. Recently, placing seniors in facilities away from the family home has become more socially acceptable.

The debate around whether robots or humans should provide care is somewhat beside the point. We’ve replaced our personal responsibilities to our families with seemingly easier alternatives, but they’re clearly not the right ones. The move towards robots in combating loneliness shows a concerning shift in how we view the dignity and love that seniors deserve. It feels like an excuse for the uncomfortable truth that families are choosing to outsource the way we should care for one another.

Families ought to express sacrificial love. Parents take care of their children during their most dependent years. Then there’s a phase where both are independent, followed eventually by a time when parents again rely on their children. This cycle promotes human flourishing at every stage and strengthens generational ties.

Robots may mimic care, but they lack the emotional depth that comes with it. They don’t grow tired or frustrated, nor do they experience fulfillment. When families relinquish this caregiving role entirely, they miss vital chances to nurture those connections that reinforce the fabric of society.

Children need to see their parents caring for their grandparents. The moral compass they develop is largely based on the examples set before them. If we start to divest ourselves of the responsibility to care for our aging loved ones, we’re inadvertently teaching them how to treat us when our time comes. One day, don’t be surprised if you find yourself waking up to a robot asking if you’d like breakfast. That could become the reality for those who overlook their duties.