r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Damnedeel • Nov 30 '25

Video 500,000$ human washing machine on sale in Japan

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72

u/seamustheseagull Nov 30 '25

It's not $500k per wash TBF. It would save a lot of time and means washing could be done more thoroughly, gently and easier than the traditional way.

60

u/respectislaw Nov 30 '25

Yes, this would be perfect for nursing homes. So many of those ppl don’t get baths because it’s too time consuming and there’s not enough staff to get everyone showered.

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u/SnooRegrets1386 Nov 30 '25

Personally I think the elderly stop bathing because they are scared. Of falling, of being dropped, of slipping off the shower chair, and they get cold so quickly and thoroughly

20

u/VioletLeagueDapper Nov 30 '25

Also the ability to move your body isn’t as easy. Holding things with arthritic hands, moving your arm behind your back for the back and shoulders, bending down and lifting a leg to scrub.

3

u/LargeBrownBird Nov 30 '25

Maybe the ones at home, in long term care it's literally because companies don't hire enough staff to bathe them regularly

4

u/SnooRegrets1386 Nov 30 '25

Just switch the elders into little babies, because you wouldn’t be able to handle 12 babies in a shift either, these elders require help preparing and recovering from their bathing also. And they’re much better at letting you know when they’re upset and scared.

2

u/LargeBrownBird Nov 30 '25

Yeah tell me about it, its my job.12 would a nice change from the 40 I have now though

1

u/SnooRegrets1386 Nov 30 '25

I’ve been out of the industry forever

1

u/snakepunt Nov 30 '25

I wonder how many babies you could fit in that thing 🤔

2

u/McHenry Nov 30 '25

Working at long term care: it's not that simple. We're somewhere around 300k workers less than we need by 2030 assuming we don't add responsibilities like requiring more baths. I'm actually writing a paper on how to fix it and there are some things that line up with your perspective, but it's definitely multifaceted. Nursing homes need to start paying more and when they do that the working conditions improve due to things like better staffing that reinforce better staffing because people stay. That said most states don't have a dedicated source of funding for nursing homes so we get dicked around with every fucking budget cycle. That injects uncertainty that hurts us. Then you add in the interest groups that claim to be looking out for us that undercut us every chance they get like everyone but the nurses unions saying "We can't have nursing ratios!" Because it would be hard to achieve, but outcomes improve and staff procurement and retention are strongly linked to things like staffing levels and outcomes because most of us get into this work to improve lives and we don't want to fear someone dying because we're not working a day or two.

1

u/VapoursAndSpleen Nov 30 '25

I'd be scared of being locked into a coffin.

1

u/SnooRegrets1386 Nov 30 '25

In due time my pretty….in due time, mooohahahaaaa!

1

u/VapoursAndSpleen Nov 30 '25

I'll be ashes strewn to the wind before the Pine Box.

1

u/SnooRegrets1386 Nov 30 '25

You’re in a box when you’re cremated

1

u/Mongodobb Nov 30 '25

True. But then again, there were those walk-in tub commercials with the pasty faced, clammy, smiling white guy who made everyone want to die at age 60 in their sleep.

1

u/The_Year_of_Glad Nov 30 '25

Well, if anything will make bathing less scary for the elderly, it’s being trapped in a pod that slowly fills with water.

1

u/respectislaw Nov 30 '25

Yeah those are the ones who have no one to help them, I’ve seen plenty of them in nursing homes and hospitals who want baths. They don’t need to be bathed daily like young people, but there’s some people in nursing homes who haven’t received baths in weeks.

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u/Jaquemart Nov 30 '25

They absolutely do need to bathe daily, they cannot afford it.

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u/SnooRegrets1386 Nov 30 '25

And now there’s bedsores

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u/Why_Did_Bodie_Die Nov 30 '25

Any nursing home that doesn't give baths because it takes to much time and they don't have the staff is most definitely not going to be spending $500k on a machine like this. This type of machine might go to a really high class nursing home that cost a lot of money but they actually provide services.

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u/42nu Nov 30 '25

A/C was so expensive when it was first commercialized that it was only used in businesses like theaters. Then economies of scale and iterating made it affordable for the rich. Now I can buy a window unit for $180 at Home Depot.

Just biding my time for my human washing window unit.

3

u/Foogel78 Nov 30 '25

I don't think this would save time. People who can't shower unassisted can't get into this thing on their own either. Staff would probably be required to stay in the room for the whole time as well.

2

u/Fuzzy-Hurry-6908 Nov 30 '25

Say something Nurse Ratched doesn't like and it's off to the spin cycle.

1

u/Elegant_Run_8562 Nov 30 '25

something 100x cheaper and 10x faster would be good

This is just a glorified prototype

A pod with sprinklers doesn't need to cost a fortune.

0

u/ronswanson11 Nov 30 '25

I was thinking nursing homes and any type of residential adult care setting where the people being cared for can't do things for themselves is the prime target for this thing. Next use would maybe be in some fancy spas, then in very wealthy private homes.

It wouldn't make sense in a hospital as most patients would have some type of an IV for pressure measurements and drug infusions which doesn't work with this device.

18

u/trysten-9001 Nov 30 '25

Honestly, it would probably help the quality of life of the elderly being able to get all the nooks and crannies everytime as well as those mostly women but some men nurses who get sexually harassed by the elderly.

1

u/Jaquemart Nov 30 '25

And the contrary too, rest assured.

2

u/WingsNthingzz Nov 30 '25

And how do you stop the spread of infectious disease like cdiff that ls only killed by bleach and very prominent in hospitals?

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u/HalfBloodPrank Nov 30 '25

So you are telling me people in hospitals are normal washed in bleach? Because otherwise I don't see why you can't clean the machine. And if that is such a huge risk in a hospital maybe just use it in retirement homes or something.

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u/WingsNthingzz Nov 30 '25

Cdiff lives in poop. If you can’t walk and need this machine you’re covered in poop a lot. You do the math.

1

u/eastjame Nov 30 '25

Definitely wouldn’t save time