How AskSara.care works
A free, nonprofit directory for researching memory care and assisted living. No placement fees, no broker incentives, no pressure. Here is how to use it.
The basics
AskSara.care is a directory. You can search for memory care and assisted living communities by location, filter by care type, and review information about each community to help decide which ones are worth visiting in person.
The directory is free to use. There is no account required. We do not ask for your phone number or email to access search results. You can use every part of this site anonymously.
Using the directory in three steps
1
Search by location and care type
Enter a city, ZIP code, or address and select the type of care you are looking for. Results show communities near you with basic information about each one. You can filter results by care type, and sort by distance.
2
Review community profiles
Each listing includes the care types offered, address and contact information, and other publicly available details. You can use this information to build a shortlist of communities worth calling or visiting. We do not rank communities or recommend one over another.
3
Reach out directly
When you are ready to contact a community, you reach them directly. We do not intercept your inquiry, pass it to a broker, or notify facilities when you view their listing. The relationship is between you and them.
How we are different
Most online care directories are funded by the facilities they list. A community pays to appear prominently in search results. A referral agent earns a commission when a family signs a contract. The result is a system where the rankings and recommendations serve the industry, not the family.
AskSara.care operates differently.
Funded by placement fees from facilities
Funded by charitable contributions, not facilities
Rankings influenced by who pays more
No paid rankings — all listings treated equally
Your inquiry is sold as a lead to agents
You contact facilities directly, no middleman
Pressure to move quickly and commit
No urgency tactics, no sales language
For-profit business optimizing for revenue
501(c)(3) nonprofit optimizing for families
Why this matters
When a directory is funded by placement fees, its incentive is to move families toward a decision — any decision — as quickly as possible. Our incentive is to help families make an informed decision, on their own timeline, with accurate information. Those are different goals and they produce different products.
Meet Sara
A guide, not a salesperson
Sara is an optional digital guide available on AskSara.care. She can help you understand care types, think through your situation, prepare for a tour, and figure out what questions to ask.
Sara is here to help. Ask her anything about care options. She works for families, not facilities.
Sara will not recommend a specific facility, push you toward a decision, or collect your personal information. She is a thinking tool. The directory works completely without her.
Common questions
Is AskSara.care really free?
Yes. There is no cost to search the directory, read the guides, or use Sara. We do not charge families for access to any part of the site.
Do I need to create an account?
No. You can search the directory and use all of our resources without creating an account or providing any personal information.
Will I be contacted by a sales agent after searching?
No. We do not sell leads and we do not share your search activity with facilities or referral agents. Your search is private.
Do you recommend specific facilities?
No. We provide information about communities but do not endorse or recommend any specific facility. We help families understand what to look for and evaluate their options — the decision is yours.
How is AskSara.care funded?
Through charitable contributions to the Ask Sara Foundation. We do not accept placement fees, referral commissions, or advertising revenue from the senior care industry.
What is Sara and is she a real person?
Sara is a digital guide powered by artificial intelligence. She is not a human advisor, a licensed social worker, or a placement agent. She provides general information and helps families think through their options. She does not provide medical, legal, or financial advice.
What if I need help beyond what the directory offers?
Our resource guides cover care types, costs, and touring in detail. Sara can help you think through questions you have not been able to answer. For medical questions, talk to a geriatrician or primary care physician. For legal or financial questions related to care, an elder law attorney is the right resource. For help navigating Medicare or Medicaid, SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) provides free, unbiased guidance in every state.
