First: if you believe it is an emergency, call 911
If your parent said something worrying, has a condition that can turn quickly, or you have any reason to think they are hurt, do not wait. Call 911 or the police in their city and ask for a welfare check. You do not need to be sure; that is what a welfare check is for.
If it is not an emergency yet, work through this order
- Call again in 10 to 15 minutes, and let it ring fully. Older adults often need longer to reach the phone.
- Try every number: landline, cell, and any second number. Leave a short voicemail and send a text.
- Call someone nearby: a neighbor, a friend, the building manager, or anyone with a key.
- Check the obvious: was there an appointment today? A ride, a visit, a trip to the store? A shared calendar helps here.
- Request a welfare check through the local police non-emergency line if you still cannot reach them. Give their address, any health conditions, and whether someone nearby has a key.
Why it keeps happening
Hearing loss, a phone left on silent, a dead battery and a phone that stays in another room are the most common reasons. Many families fix part of the problem with a louder ringer, a phone with an amplified handset, or a landline in the room where their parent spends most of the day.
Set up a plan before the next missed call
The worst part of an unanswered call is not knowing what to do next, or not knowing whether a sibling already tried. Agree on these ahead of time:
- A list of every phone number, in order.
- One or two local people who can knock on the door, and who has a key.
- Your parent's address, doctors and medications written down where every family member can see them.
- How long you wait before each step.
Let someone else make the daily call
Premium Care Wellness Checks calls your parent at the same time every day. If they do not answer, we follow a written escalation plan: repeated attempts on every number, a text, then calls to the family contacts in the order you choose, all timestamped. Anything beyond your family contacts, such as asking for a welfare check, happens only if you have authorized it in writing. You get a note after every call either way. See exactly what happens when they don't answer.
Common questions
How long should I wait before asking for a welfare check?
If you have any reason to think your parent is hurt or ill, call right away. Otherwise, most families try every number and a local contact first, which usually takes under an hour.
Can I request a welfare check from another state?
Yes. Call the police non-emergency line in your parent's city and give their address and any health information. You do not need to live there.
Will your callers call 911?
No. Our service is not an emergency service. If we cannot reach your parent we contact your family, and any further step happens only if you have authorized it in writing. In an emergency, call 911.
Please note: Premium Care Wellness Checks is a non-medical telephone reassurance service. It is not medical care and not a substitute for 911, a physician, or a medical alert device. In an emergency, call 911.