<p>Thanks to developments in the underlying technology, home robots’ proactivity in addressing aging issues has become an increasingly popular aspect of home robot design. However, this proactivity may be a double-edged sword. Based on the results of three studies, this research challenges the notion that home robots’ proactivity in addressing aging is always a positive outcome. Study 1 adopted a design that tested proactivity against reactivity. Older adults were randomly divided into two groups and asked to report their perceptions of and reactions to robots’ proactivity. Study 2 simulated three levels of home robot proactivity—from low to high. Older adults were randomly divided into three groups and asked to provide their perceptions of and reactions to this proactivity. The results indicate that robots’ proactivity in addressing aging is positively associated with older adults’ fear of being replaced and perception of threatened independence. In turn, this positively affects their avoidance of home robots. Meanwhile, a mechanism analysis showed that older adults’ fear of being replaced and perception of threatened independence exert a fully mediating effect. Furthermore, drawing on regulatory focus theory, Study 2 revealed that prevention-focused older adults are more likely to perceive the outcomes of home robots’ proactivity negatively. Study 3 (for which semi-structured interviews were conducted) further complements the first two studies’ findings through quantitative research and thereby enhances their validity. This paper confirms the existence of a negative dimension of home robotic technology and highlights the mechanisms underlying older adults’ negative reactions to home robots’ proactivity, offering guidance for home robot design.</p>