What should I do if my elderly parent isn't answering the phone?

Why is Mom not answering the phone?

It is often something small. The phone is on silent, in another room, or out of battery. She may be at an appointment, in the shower or asleep. The same goes when your dad is not answering the phone.

Steps, in order

1. 1Call again, and leave a message.
2. 2Text her. Some people see a text before they hear a ring.
3. 3Call someone close by: a neighbor, a friend, her building manager or community front desk.
4. 4If nobody can reach her and it is out of character, call her local police non-emergency line and ask for a welfare check.
5. 5If you believe she is hurt or in danger, call 911.

How a daily check-in helps

With Hammock365, she taps I'm Okay each morning. When she is not answering, your screen shows whether she checked in today, and her history shows the days before. You know whether the silence started this morning or yesterday. If she has not tapped by the time you picked, you get a text, which gets you to step 3 sooner. The check-in and the text are free.

Get ready before it happens

• Save a neighbor's number and her local police non-emergency number in your phone.
• Fill in her emergency card, so whoever reaches her has her medications, allergies and doctor. It is free.
• Decide with family, or with the friend who checks on her, who calls whom and who drives over.

The honest limit

Hammock365 does not call her, send anyone to her door, or call 911. It tells your family. In an emergency, call 911.