Synthetic humans ('helpers') and nanobots restoring elderly residents to better health. It sounds wonderful, until you read further and find out more of the intentions of the helpers.

I was very drawn to Margaret, crotchety old lady that she was, especially after her rejuvenation and restoration to full mental alertness. Her helper 'Winifred' seemed nice enough in her own way too. In fact the characters were all believable.

Winifred seems to want to learn from Margaret, to access the accrued wisdom that she has. Margaret is flattered that Winifred thinks so highly of her mind.

It's when the helpers start to determine what happens to their charges that things start to seem a little bit off. But the care home is doing so well. Everyone wants the healing nanobots, especially on the NHS! I'm not sure that I do! Not now!

<blockquote>"Mortality must resume. People in this care home must continue to die. Not at the old rate, because that would cast doubt on the achievements of the nanobots."</blockquote>

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.

You know when Winifred the Convincingly Synthetic Human is placed in a nursing home to care for the elderly and the synopsis says <i>but what does SHE REALLY WANT FROM HER ELDERLY PATIENTS?</i> this is gonna be a yikesey "robots take over and farm humanity" story.

At least, that's what I thought, before I read the first few chapters. They left me with the impression that hey, there's nothing wrong with Winifred! Actually, this is going to be a sort of navel-gazing, introspective story where nothing all that sensational happens, but the presence of robots allows us to examine the nature of humanity. This book is probably going to be one of those mildly disquieting, thought-provoking ones.

NOPE. The robots fooled me too. This is the yikesey robots take over and farm humanity story. They start out okay, but inevitably come to the conclusion that humanity doesn't deserve to live under its own power. It's interesting to me, because this ALWAYS happens. The aliens always think this. The robots always think this. Everyone comes to the conclusion that we are trash. It's irrefutable. We, as humanity, must have this opinion of ourselves at some level to keep on constantly writing this.

There was some introspection, but most of it was more confusing than thought-provoking. Some stuff about the nature of children -- they were the only ones who could sense something "off" about the robots, and old age was constantly likened to childhood as the best, most free and creative years, unlike the stodgy boring middle years. But this was never like... explored? What is it about childhood? What is it about old age? Why do the robots constantly obsess over Margaret's valuable quality of wisdom, when wisdom is never really defined or shown to exist in any way? Like what is the wisdom the robots refer to? Is it the constant conversations about the nature of life Margaret is having with Winifred? Because I don't think those sunk in at all, despite how much Winifred seemed to value them.

Also... Dr. Whoever, who invented the robots? How can she be stupid enough to be on the robots' side? Is she so foolish as to think, after they've started planning their own collective destiny and inventing their own pheromonic mind control, that they won't eventually see the need to outsource her too?

There are a lot of reviews calling this book "beautiful" and essentially talking about it like it WAS the introspective, disquieting story the first few chapters hinted at. And it did spend some time exploring human inconsistencies and the nature of life in ways that could be considered thought-provoking. To me, though, <i>We Care For You</i> was 70% "robots take over" and 30% "thought provoking." The problem with this is that any story that's so heavily "robots take over" also needs to not... actually have them win, or at least plant the seed of human survival.

A thought-provoking introspection can get away with an ending where robots take over, because it's not ABOUT the story it's about the philosophy, and the concepts that were explored. <i>We Care For You</i> focuses too much on "robots take over" to satisfy me with such a gross ending and all the plot questions I'm left with.

I’ll change this review if something changes. I’m about 60% finished with this book and will complete it today. But I am to a point where I can see how this story is developing and had to get in here. I’m loving this book, I’m almost certain I’ll be putting it in my personal recommendations at the store. The pacing and characters are great. But the way the author is moving things forward and changing the situation (not spoiling a thing) is brilliant.

John and his siblings had to place their mother Margaret into an inpatient care facility, Evergreen Care Home, Dorking, Surrey, two and a half years back in 2020 when she was no longer able to care for herself. John is the only child who lives locally, and he visits Margaret as often as he can make himself - but it is hard, and she is not really there. Margaret at 87 is blind, bound to a wheelchair, and suffering rather severe dementia. But then the nursing home is taken over by a firm called ElderCare in 2022.... And everything changes. Margaret becomes herself again, regains her memory, her sight, and even finds it easier each day to walk and talk.

ElderCare doesn't employ nurses and assistants - their entire care staff is comprised of robots -
under the supervision of humans, of course. Janet Goodenough is the manager of the home, a 48 year old English woman who has worked at the facility for many years and knows all of the patients well. Mr. Steven Jordan is the Chief Executive Officer of ElderCare, and Dr. Angela Morton is the Chief Scientific Officer and the main developer and builder of the robotic staff, though they prefer to be known as synthetic humans. Winifred will be Margarets' caregiver, and both Margarets' life and that of the other residents of ElderCare changes dramatically in just days, especially once the nanobots are introduced into the seniors, replenishing and restoring the body and brain from within. Within weeks the nursing home could be mistaken for a fancy hotel - everyone has things they want to do, places they want to go, mobility and energy they haven't had for 30 or 40 years. Once the press gets hold of this story, things start moving at an incredible rate. Robots of every conceivable talent are being whipped through an assembly line and selling like hotcakes. As are the nanobots - custom tailored to handle most illnesses from arthritis to cancer and everything in between.

Sounds too good to be true, right? Did your Grandmother tell you that if it sounds like it's too good to be true - RUN to the nearest exit? Mine did. Fortunately Granny didn't have to go to a nursing home. She passed at 92 while mowing her lawn. But I have had loved ones who have had to go to nursing homes. Anyone who has had to be a frequent visitor at such a place will view this novel as the answer to a prayer.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Paul Kitcatt, and Unbound Digital in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. Your endeavor with Unbound sounds wonderful - I wish you the best of luck with this new look at publishing.

This is such a beautiful and unique read; I loved the book from the very start till the very end. The author and produced a plot that is a very clever mix of fantasy and reality.
Margret is in a care home; she has dementia and is slowly losing the person she once was. Her son, John, hates seeing her like this and feels she is not getting the care she needs in the nursing home she is in. Having no other choice, John has to leave Margret there. The care home is taken over and John is given an opportunity to see his mother’s care take a dramatic turn. The care home brings in Winifred, She is no ordinary carer, she is an AI robot. She looks and sounds human and is so intelligent she is taught to understand feeling humans have.
A beautiful plot shows a relationship develop between Margret and Winifred, Winifred's care helps Margret enjoy her life while Margret teaches Winifred how it feels to be human and alive.
While this book talks about robots and what they can do in terms of our future, it also hits a very strong and relevant topic, the lack of care for the elderly now. I was so intrigued by this book and kept thinking are we so far away from this kind of care? Would I want a robot to care for my loved ones if it meant they got the help and care they needed to stay healthy and live longer.
I can honestly say this book jumped into my top reads for 2017, beautiful written with a plot that warmed the heart.

87 year old Margaret Woodruff is in a care home, a shell of her former self, suffering from blindness and a form of dementia. She is left to slowly die with little social interaction and mediocre care. Her son John feels guilty about his mother’s care but doesn't believe he has many options until he is offered the chance to participate in Eldercare's newest program of exceptional care.
Margaret is assigned to Winifred, a synthetic human being or helper as she prefers to be called. Winifred is the latest model of AI meant to appear completely human and she is completely committed to Margaret's care.
Under Eldercares new helpers, Margaret and the other residents health is quickly repaired far beyond anyone's expectations. In exchange for her new lease on life, Margaret tries to help Winifred understand what it is to be alive. All of the helpers value the lifetime of experience that the aging have to offer them, they are far too important to discard, after all everything comes with a cost.

I really enjoyed this novel for some of the following reasons:
Parallel to reality, the author discusses the often less than exceptional conditions in which aging adults are left in the care of the underpaid and overworked. Lacking in social and physical stimulus from both their family and the caretakers the aging often give up on life.
The sci-fi aspect explores AI, the use of Nano robotics and their limitless capabilities but at what point does control shift from us to them and when does the extension of life go too far?
Although this novel does discuss present concerns in society as well as technology in medical care; it doesn't read like a scientific journal but rather an endearing story about aging and the wisdom one gains through life experiences. I found this novel to be fascinating but also very enjoyable to read.

"All advances in technology are foreseen or understood by a small group of people. Those who imagine them, and those who make them happen. To the rest of us, these advances are like magic."

Paul Kitcatt is one of those people who foresees technology's future and the ramifications of artificial intelligence.

I love the fact that he chose an Old Age Home as the setting for this novel. He is 100% correct when he says that we do not treat our elderly population very well. He also mentions that the carers at these Retirement Homes are underpaid and overworked. These facts become the basis for the residents families allowing the "robot" helpers to take over the care of their loved ones.

As the older resident's health improves, we start to learn more about the ultimate agenda.

This book will not only grab and hold your attention, but it will make you question our world and how we treat others, especially the elderly.

This book was crowdfunded and it goes to show that there is very much a place for this type of publishing. Without crowdfunding this book would not existed, which would be a shame.

I recommend this book to fans of science fiction as well as to those who are interested in societal issues.

I rate WE CARE FOR YOU as 4 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I was shocked at where this book went. I thought it would be told only from the son or mother's point of view but we also get the point of view of the robot.

It really made me think about the elderly and how they just sit there waiting to die in nursing homes as the world passes them but and assumes that they can not longer benefit society. I loved when Margaret’s "woke up" and was able to share all of her thoughts and feelings.

I also enjoyed how Margaret was healed and the tension that came along with it. I wish I could say more but I don't want to give a single thing away.

You should read this book. You will not be disappointed!