Porchlight for Communities
Every story deserves a light left on.
Porchlight helps assisted-living and senior-care communities capture each resident's life story — in their own voice, with one big button — and turns those stories into enrichment programming and a living connection with the people who love them.
$100 a month for 20 residents, then $10 each — billed to the community. Family access included free. No app store, no passwords for residents — onboarding is a QR code.
Craziest story of the day
“I once drove a milk truck across three states with a parrot riding shotgun — he learned to whistle the route.”
Illustrative example. Porchlight never shows real residents on this site.
Three faces, one warm thread
A single conversation, carried to everyone who matters.
One resident taps a button and talks. That small act becomes programming for your team and connection for their family.
The resident app
One screen, large text, a single big Next button. Each question is read aloud; the resident speaks for as long as they like and taps Next when they're done. No typing, no timers, no silence detection — and an audio on/off toggle for those who'd rather read.
The coordinator dashboard
Your activity director opens a daily digest, story highlights, and gems like the “craziest story of the day” — raw interviews turned into bulletin-board material, speeches, and group-session prompts.
The family relay
Loved ones get a private page to hear anything their resident recorded — and to leave their own voice messages back, voicemail-style. SMS and email pings fire on both sides. Family access is always free.
From a single conversation to a connected family
Simple for residents. Powerful for everyone else.
1. One button, one voice
The app reads a life-story question aloud and shows it large. The resident taps Next, speaks naturally, and taps Next again when finished.
2. The work happens quietly
Each answer is transcribed automatically, and an AI assistant chooses a thoughtful next question — branching to fit the person, never asking about a spouse if there wasn't one.
3. The gold, not the grind
Your coordinator gets a clean morning digest and surfaced highlights — ready for speeches, bulletin boards, and reminiscence circles.
For activity directors & executive directors
Enrichment programming that writes itself.
Your life-enrichment team already knows the best programming starts with knowing your residents. The problem is time. Porchlight does the listening at scale — every resident, every day — and hands your coordinator ready-to-use material.
- A daily digest — a short, scannable summary of new stories across the whole community, no transcript-wading required.
- Highlights, surfaced automatically — the gems flagged for you, including the “craziest story of the day.”
- Programming you can build on — a wartime memory becomes a Veterans Day feature; a shared hometown becomes a table grouping.
- Recognition at the group level — use highlights in speeches, newsletters, and family events so residents feel seen.
Why it matters
Loneliness is a health crisis. A story is a remedy.
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a public-health advisory, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, warning that social disconnection is a serious risk to physical and mental health (source: Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, 2023). Older adults in care settings are among the most exposed.
Porchlight is built on a simple conviction: being heard is good for you, and staying connected is good for you. When a resident is recorded, they're seen, the family stays close, and the legacy is preserved.
Simple, all-in pricing
Includes 20 residents; additional residents are $10 each per month, added in-app. Billed to the community — never to the family. Family listening and reply access is included free.
Leave a light on for every story in your community.
Watch your residents light up, your families lean in, and your programming write itself.