How to request a welfare check
To request a welfare check, call the police or sheriff’s non-emergency number for the place where the person lives, not where you live. Give their name, address and the reason you’re worried, and an officer will go to the door to make sure they’re okay. If you believe the person is in danger right now, call 911 instead.
What is a welfare check?
A welfare check, also called a wellness check, is a visit by a police officer or sheriff’s deputy to see whether someone is safe. Family, friends, neighbors and employers can all request one, usually when they can’t reach a person who is normally easy to reach and they have a reason to be concerned. There is normally no charge.
It’s not an emergency response, so it may take some time, depending on what else the department is dealing with.
When to request one
Try the simple things first: call and text again, and ask a neighbor, friend, building manager or relative nearby to knock on the door. Request a welfare check if those don’t work and:
- the person is usually reachable at this time and the silence is out of character;
- they’re older, live alone, or have a health condition, memory problems or limited mobility;
- someone has noticed warning signs, such as mail piling up, lights unchanged for days, or a pet left alone.
If you think someone may harm themselves, call 911 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
1. Find the right number
Call the police department or sheriff’s office that covers the person’s address. Their non-emergency number is usually on the city or county website; search for the city name plus “police non-emergency number.” You can request a welfare check from another city or state.
2. Tell the dispatcher what they need
Have this ready before you call:
- the person’s full name, address, age, and a short description;
- your relationship to them, and when you last heard from them;
- why you’re worried: what is different from normal;
- any health conditions, medications, memory problems or mobility issues;
- how to get in: a neighbor with a key, a lockbox or gate code, a building manager;
- whether there are pets or anyone else in the home;
- your name and a phone number where you can be reached.
These are the details police departments themselves ask for (example from UC Davis Police).
3. What happens next
- An officer goes to the address, knocks, and tries to make contact. They may also talk to neighbors.
- If nobody answers and officers believe someone inside needs help, they may enter the home. The rules vary between places.
- Keep your phone with you: the officer or dispatcher may call back with questions or an update.
- If the person is fine, an adult’s privacy still applies: you may only be told that they’re safe, especially if they don’t want details shared.
When to call 911 instead
Call 911 straight away if you have reason to believe the person is in danger now, for example if they told you they had chest pain or felt faint, you heard a fall or a cry for help during a call, or someone can see them through a window and they aren’t responding.
Other people who can help
- Adult Protective Services in each state looks into concerns about neglect, self-neglect or abuse of older and vulnerable adults.
- Area Agencies on Aging can connect an older adult with support at home, and some run daily telephone reassurance calls. The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) finds the one near them.
So you’re not guessing next time
A welfare check is the right step when you’re worried and out of options. A daily routine can stop you getting there: an agreed check-in time, a neighbor nearby with a key, and a written list of health information. Our guide on what to do if an elderly parent doesn’t answer the phone covers the steps before a welfare check, and Heyimokay sends a text and email to up to six people as soon as a daily check-in is missed, so the nearest person can knock first.