Senior care communities today are navigating unprecedented challenges: rising labor costs, staffing shortages, heightened cleanliness expectations, and a growing emphasis on infection prevention. Manual cleaning methods—though familiar—often fall short in delivering the consistency, efficiency, and scale required in today’s environments.

Robotic cleaning solutions like Whiz by SoftBank Robotics offer a proven alternative. As an autonomous vacuum sweeper, Whiz enhances cleaning quality, alleviates staffing strain, and delivers a measurable return on investment (ROI)—all with confirmed automated cleaning and proof of performance.

The hidden costs of manual cleaning in senior care

Labor strain and rising costs

With turnover rates in environmental roles often exceeding 200% annually, senior care communities face ongoing challenges in maintaining reliable floor care routines. Recruiting, onboarding, and training staff repeatedly strains both budgets and productivity. Rising wages only compound the issue.

Manual cleaning processes also leave operators vulnerable to missed cleans, staff burnout, and increased exposure to repetitive strain injuries—adding to absenteeism, safety risks, and inconsistent results.

Equipment downtime and inconsistent coverage

Traditional floor care equipment requires ongoing maintenance and is prone to inconsistent usage. In many communities, this leads to reduced equipment lifespan and uneven cleaning across high-traffic areas like dining rooms, hallways, and common spaces. Missed routes or delayed cleaning can ultimately shorten flooring life and contribute to operational inefficiencies.

Cleaning robots vs manual labor: the measurable differences

Fixed, predictable costs

With autonomous floor care, communities replace fluctuating hourly wages with a fixed one-time cost. With Whiz, communities can lock in a fixed capitalized cost for floor care, helping protect budgets from wage inflation and labor shortages. Operating costs can fall below $10 per hour—far lower than traditional staffing costs with cleaning robot technology.

Scalable productivity

Whiz can cover 4,000+ sq ft/hour and features a 6-hour runtime using two included hot-swappable batteries. That’s up to 24,000 sq ft cleaned per day — freeing your team to focus on high-touch areas, infection control and resident-centered care tasks instead of repetitive vacuuming.

Cleaner floors, healthier environments

HEPA filtration enables Whiz to capture 99.97% of particulates—including dust and allergens—creating a healthier environment for residents and staff. Studies in senior care communities have shown a 2x improvement in overall floor cleanliness and a 50% improvement in dust control after adopting robotic cleaning.

Real-world ROI: robotic cleaning success spotlights

Large assisted living community

A large senior living community integrated robotic vacuum cleaners into their cleaning routine, and reported:

  • A 30% reduction in cleaning labor hours
  • Closing staffing gaps at a lower, fixed rate — saving up to $35K annually
  • Improved cleaning consistency, increasing resident satisfaction and family trust
  • Added new, higher-value services by reallocating labor
Memory care community

A specialized memory care community implemented robotic vacuums in hallways and common areas, leading to:

  • A 40% reduction in staff workload for floor care
  • Enhanced infection control through daily vacuuming with HEPA filtration
  • More available time for staff to assist residents with personal needs
Senior living community

Faced with maintaining a brand-new facility, the team implemented robotic vacuum cleaners and saw:

  • Over 4.7 million sq ft cleaned since deployment
  • 1,179+ labor hours reclaimed
  • Delivered tangible proof of performance, building trust in automation
  • Residents and staff named the robot, turning it into a beloved part of the community

How senior care communities can get started with robotic cleaning

Investing in robotic floor care solutions doesn’t have to be complicated. Direct Supply and SoftBank Robotics offer a white-glove onboarding experience that ensures a smooth transition, with dedicated support for mapping, training, and change management.

Automated cleaning isn’t just about reducing costs — it’s about unlocking new operational efficiencies. Here’s how to begin:

  1. Assess your baseline by documenting current labor hours spent on vacuuming, equipment maintenance, and consumables.
  2. Calculate the ROI of automation based on projected labor savings and efficiency improvements.
  3. Request a demo or ROI assessment. Our team can help scope your buildings, identify opportunities for improvement, and show how quickly Whiz pays for itself.

Reimagine floor care for senior care

Whiz isn’t just a robot — it’s a strategic investment in the future of your community. With tangible benefits including labor savings, improved cleaning consistency, and enhanced resident experience, Whiz delivers confirmed cleaning and peace of mind in a scalable, affordable way.

Whether you operate a single building or a multi-site portfolio, cleaning automation offers a smarter, scalable approach to meeting your cleanliness standards and operational goals.

Ready to transform your floor care program?

Contact us today and see how Whiz can help your team do more—with less.

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