SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 14, 2025 – The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS is spearheading large-scale practical trials in Bavaria to reimagine the future of eldercare through digital assistants, connected devices, and smart environments. With Germany projected to face a shortfall of at least 280,000 nursing staff by 2049, the “Pflege 2030” (Care 2030) project aims to alleviate workforce pressure while improving the quality of patient interaction.
Smart Technologies Selected by Caregivers
Unlike traditional top-down innovation rollouts, the Care 2030 program puts nurses in charge of technology adoption. Staff at the Karlsfeld-based “Haus Curanum” selected ten solutions to trial, reflecting their day-to-day needs. At the top of their list was not robotics, but a voice-controlled tablet for speech-to-text patient documentation, eliminating manual entry on wired PCs.
Other requested tools include:
- Digital medication management and wound tracking systems
- Fall detection sensors integrated with automatic night lights
- Room-based monitoring for resident mobility and safety
Novel Approaches Beyond Market-Ready Devices
Fraunhofer researchers are also testing pre-market innovations that demonstrate how preventive and diagnostic care could evolve. For example, a toilet seat equipped with ECG electrodes enables non-invasive heart monitoring during routine use, while a smart mattress with modular foam cubes helps redistribute pressure to prevent decubitus ulcers.
“These are practical interventions that nurses asked for—technologies that streamline workflows and directly support resident well-being,” explained Thomas Wittenberg, computer scientist and medical technology expert at Fraunhofer IIS.
Robotics and Immersive Therapy Pilots
Robots are also being trialed, though in focused and pragmatic roles. A cleaning robot manages corridor maintenance, while a conversational robot capable of facial recognition will undergo evaluation in coming weeks. Plans also include a nightwatch robot equipped with radar to detect emergencies. Complementary VR goggles are being used to provide residents with immersive experiences, from alpine landscapes to historic cityscapes, supporting emotional and cognitive well-being.
Market Context: Aging Population and Digital Care Demand
The Care 2030 trials reflect a growing European and global urgency to scale long-term care solutions amid aging populations. Digital health and eldercare technologies are moving from pilot stage to commercial deployment, but widespread adoption hinges on financing models, interoperability, and caregiver acceptance. Fraunhofer’s staff-led selection approach aligns with broader healthcare digitization trends that prioritize frontline engagement to overcome skepticism.
Feedback, Funding, and Future Deployment
Initial reactions at Haus Curanum have been positive, with caregivers reporting that the digital assistants reduce administrative burden and free time for empathetic engagement with residents. At the end of the one-year pilot, the consortium will assess performance and address a key barrier: funding pathways for broader adoption in nursing homes.
As Wittenberg emphasized, “We asked nursing staff at the Korian Foundation for Aging in Dignity to select ten technologies. These are now being tested in parallel for one year, supported by the companies who made their developments available for these practical trials.”
The results are expected to guide policymakers, care providers, and technology suppliers in scaling digital eldercare solutions that are both effective and financially sustainable.
For more information, visit Fraunhofer IIS Care 2030.