In the 2010s, a small number of science fiction films and television series exploring the theme of the robot carer and how humans respond to them were released. This paper explores three works in this regard: the films Robot & Frank (dir. Jake Schreier, USA 2012), Big Hero 6 (dir. Don Hall/Chris Williams, USA 2014) and the television series Humans (UK/USA, Channel 4/AMC, 2015–2018). Examining these works with some of the ethical issues currently being discussed in the use of robot technology in care work, this paper demonstrates how they align themselves with, but also challenge some of these ideas, and ultimately direct viewers to consider their own expectations of personalised healthcare. The essay begins by examining the fears of the care industry deploying robots to replace the work of human carers, followed by a discussion of the effectiveness of robots as carers as depicted in these fictional representations, and the final section considers the social environment that these robot carers are situated in, and how the robots become a reflection of human lives and a repository of memories of affective relations. These texts suggest alternate ways of thinking about human–robot interactions and care work, advocating for a more mutually dependent and reciprocal working relationship that might lead to a better quality of care.

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An emphasis on supporting and maintaining self-identity in dementia for as long as possible has gone hand in hand with the revitalisation of interventions, services and empowerment for people with dementia. However, recognition of the need for change, adaptation and personal growth is as necessary when living with dementia as at any other time in people's lives.Those who care for people with dementia must constantly navigate this tension between continuity and change within the context of memory loss, knowing when to respond by reinforcing the 'self' they have known over time, and when it may be better to respond by acknowledging the changes that have taken place. The creative arts are avenues for the exploration of the caring relationship under these conditions, conveying the challenges and stimulating audiences to ask themselves how they might choose to respond in a similar situation. This article considers how the scenarios of two noted films, Iris (dir. Richard Eyre, 2001 UK) and Away From Her (dir. Sarah Polley, 2006 Can), present the dilemmas of identity and care. In both, a husband cares for a wife experiencing cognitive decline, but responds differently in each to her shifting needs and changes in identity. We argue that the two films reveal complementary and provocative perspectives on this situation, and, though they offer no easy answers, provide insights into the dilemmas and decisions characteristic of caring for someone who has dementia.

ABSTRACT:In the alternative world of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy must find ways to hang on to the precious memories of their childhood. The affirmation of shared memories of Hailsham unites them, and the collective memories of the clones serve as testimonies to their plight in servitude to humankind. This examination of the novel provides a glimpse into Ishiguro's profound and elegiac work of memory.

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