The municipalities of The Hague and Amsterdam have started a trial with robot vacuum cleaners in home care. It is expected that robot vacuum cleaners can relieve the workload among employees in home care. The sector has been experiencing a staff shortage for some time. The test in both G4 cities should show whether expectations are being met.

Organize smarter

“Technology is not an end in itself, but a means to improve the quality of life, and in this case of work. Technology should suit people and not the other way around. This applies equally to care recipients and care providers. We see huge opportunities; not only in the technological innovation itself, but also in the change power that entrepreneurs, investors and knowledge institutions in this sector bring with them. By linking that world to home care in the context of the Social Support Act (Wmo), we expect to be able to organize care and support in a smarter way,” says alderman Kavita Parbhudayal of Care, Youth and Public Health and driver of care innovation.

Help with the household

During the trial in The Hague and Amsterdam, 100 robot vacuum cleaners will be used for a year for people who receive household help as part of the Wmo. In The Hague, the municipality is working together with healthcare providers T-zorg and Axxicom.

Positive results

An earlier, small-scale pilot in Amsterdam showed positive results: the use of robot vacuum cleaners saved time, eased the work of home helpers and made clients more self-sufficient. The new and extensive trial in The Hague and Amsterdam should demonstrate whether the initial findings can be regarded as normative. The study results are expected in the second quarter of 2023.