Can Robots Become Caregivers at Home? Exploring Factors Associated With Intentions of Older Chinese Adults to Use Home‐Care Robots

Background Home‐care robots are increasingly viewed as vital tools to support older adults in aging in place, addressing the widening gap between growing care needs and limited caregiving resources. This study investigates the intention of community‐dwelling older adults in China to use home‐care robots and identifies key factors influencing this intention. Methods This study was conducted among 895 community‐dwelling Chinese adults ≥ 60 years using quota sampling in Shanghai, China, from November 2024 to March 2025. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine the associations between various factors and the intentions of the participants to use home‐care robots. Results The mean score of using home‐care robots was 2.88 ± 1.02 (range: 1–4). Guided by a home‐care robot‐specific model, regression analysis indicated that willingness to participate in home‐care robot research and development (β = .10, p < .05) and key product characteristics, including convenience (β = .22, p < .001), entertainment value (β = .08, p < .05), economic efficiency (β = .12, p < .05), safety (β = .15, p < .05), and size (β = .12, p < .01), were significantly associated with intention to use home‐care robots. In addition, expectations for psychological support services from the robots ( β = 0.14, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with intention. Conclusion The intention of using home‐care robots is influenced by user‐related and robot‐specific factors. To enhance adoption among older adults, it is essential to prioritize user‐centered design and actively engage older adults in community‐based pilot initiatives and participatory design processes. In addition, the integration of home‐care robots in the future could reshape caregiving practices, necessitating that human caregivers develop new competencies to work collaboratively with robotic systems and oversee coordinated care delivery.