How do I check on my dad now that he lives alone?

What changes when he's on his own

In many couples, one person ran the calendar, the medicines and the calls to the kids. If that was Mom, Dad may be learning all of it at once, while he grieves. A widowed father living alone may not ask for help, even when he needs it.

If you are asking because your elderly father now lives alone after Mom died, start small. He is adjusting to a lot.

A daily sign he'll actually do

Some dads do not love the phone, and a daily call can feel like being checked on. One tap asks less.

With Hammock365, he taps I'm Okay each morning and it shows on your phone. You pick a deadline between 6 AM and 8 PM. If he has not tapped by then, a text goes out: to one person on the free plan, to everyone who joined on the paid plan. He can use an iPhone, an Android phone, or a link you text him that opens in his browser, with no download. A flip phone will not work.

How often should you call your dad? As often as you both enjoy it. The daily sign is for safety. The calls are for talking.

What Mom used to handle

• Medicines. Add each one with its dose and times, free. With the store app, a reminder pops up at dose time and he taps I took it. In the browser, the due medicine shows when he opens it. On the paid plan, the family gets a notification if a dose is not marked an hour after its time.
• Emergency details. His emergency card holds his legal name, date of birth, blood type, allergies, medications, doctor, two emergency contacts and insurance. It is free, on his phone and on yours.
• Calls to family. Six one-tap call buttons sit on his screen. Put the kids, a friend and a neighbor there.
• Appointments. On the paid plan, the family shares one list.

Grief and going quiet

Grief can look like not calling back, skipping meals or letting the mail pile up. If your dad won't call you back, keep reaching out, even when he is short with you. Ask a friend of his or a neighbor to stop by. If he seems stuck, suggest he talk with his doctor.

If he talks about not wanting to live, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is free, open around the clock, and you can call about someone else.

The honest limit

One tap a day tells you he was okay when he tapped. It will not fix grief or loneliness. Hammock365 is not a medical alert, a fall detector or an emergency service, and it never calls anyone or 911. In an emergency, call 911.