Questions to ask an assisted living facility about family communication
Most tour checklists cover care, cost, and amenities. This one is just about communication — the thing families in Dane County say matters most once a parent has actually moved in. Bring these questions to your next tour, or ask them over the phone before you visit.
About the everyday rhythm
- If nothing unusual happens this week, how will I know how my parent is doing?
- How often do families typically hear an update — daily, weekly, only when something changes?
- Is there a written or app-based recap, or is it phone calls only?
About who knows your parent day to day
- Who is my direct point of contact, and how do I reach them without going through a general line?
- What does a typical afternoon look like for a resident who isn't in a scheduled activity?
- How would staff notice if my parent seemed unusually quiet or withdrawn for a few days?
About staffing and continuity
- How long has your core caregiving team been together?
- If a new staff member joins, how do they learn my parent's routine and preferences?
The specific answers matter more than the reassuring ones. "We'll call if something comes up" is not the same as a real process.
About technology, if any is used
- Do you use any connected device or app for companionship or communication? Is it voice-based, and does it use cameras?
- How is my family's information kept private, and can we control what's saved?
- Is there a Business Associate Agreement in place for any technology that touches resident information?
Where Guardian Sarah fits: Guardian Sarah is a companion hub some Dane County communities use to answer these questions concretely — a voice-first, camera-free hub that visits a resident's room a few times a day and sends families a simple daily recap. It's non-medical companionship built to HIPAA-grade privacy standards, with a Business Associate Agreement available on request, and it frees staff time rather than adding to their workload.
Save this list
Print it, screenshot it, or bring your phone. A community's answers to these questions — specific and confident, or vague and reassuring — tell you as much as any brochure will.
One more question worth asking
Communities offer Guardian Sarah to their residents as a daily companion hub. If yours doesn't yet, this is a fair thing to ask about — take the family guide with you.