AI technology is on the radar of the labor-challenged care industries, according to tech industry veteran Laurie Orlov. Furthermore, "The home care industry is facing a labor crisis,” she said. “The care worker shortage (including doctors, nurses and nursing assistants) is severe and well-documented.”

"Driven by demographic shifts, longer life expectancy, and rising rates of chronic illness and cognitive decline, the demand for in-home personal care and home health care is surging,” according to Orlov’s new report. “Senior living organizations, while filling to current capacity, will be challenged to attract a market of seniors who want to age at home. Workforce shortages will boost adoption of hybrid care models – spanning in-person care and use of AI."

Orlov emphasizes that within the next five years, senior living and care organizations must find ways to benefit from AI tools that are vetted and reliable. These will include automated creation of documentation, care plans, use of AI agents that offer valuable suggestions and well-honed predictive capabilities.

Underpinning Orlov's perspective are interviews with 20 executives across the senior living and care tech markets. Both providers and tech firms offered their insights, and Orlov compiled the insights into a robust report, “AI and Older Adults - What's Now and Next in 2026." Among the findings that are explored: AI hype still outpaces adoption; adoption by older adults will depend on their trust of the results; AI tech is on the radar of the labor-challenged home care industry, and is increasingly top of mind in senior living and nursing homes.

Longevity Summit Founder, Mary Furlong, said Orlov’s report “is required reading - It is a Masterclass with meticulous precision identifying the use cases for AI to improve the lives of older adults – serving the fast-growing 80+ population that wants to age at home. AI is a transformative solution arriving just in time of the care staffing crisis. Trusted AI will help older adults live more independently at home and thrive in senior living."

To download the full report, click here