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By Daniel Rodriguez•Last Updated May 14, 2025

Wellness Checks: When and How to Request One for Someone’s Safety

What’s a wellness check?

A wellness check, likewise call a welfare check, does a request make to local police or emergency services to visit an individual at their home to make sure they’re okay. These checks are typically conducted when someone is worried about another person’s intimately being and can’t reach them or verify their safety.

Law enforcement officers who will perform wellness checks will visit the person’s residence, attempt to make contact, and will assess if the individual will need assistance. If necessary, they may arrange for medical attention or other appropriate services.

Signs that indicate a wellness check may be necessary

Sudden loss of contact

One of the well-nigh common reasons for request a wellness check is when someone abruptly stop respond to calls, texts, or other forms of communication, peculiarly if they’re typically responsive. This become peculiarly concern when:

The person live lone
They’ve ne’er go silent for this long earlier
They’ve miss important appointments or commitments
They haven’t shown up for work without notice

Concern messages or social media posts

If someone has sent messages or make social media posts that suggest they might harm themselves or others, this warrants immediate attention. Look for:

Explicit threats of self harm
Goodbye type messages
Give away prize possessions abruptly
Expressions of hopelessness or that life isn’t worth live

Known medical conditions

People with certain medical conditions may require more urgent wellness checks if they become unresponsive. This includes individuals with:

Heart conditions or other serious health issues
Diabetes or conditions that could lead to medical emergencies
Mobility issues that might prevent them from reach a phone
Cognitive conditions like dementia that might cause confusion

Recent concern behavior

Changes in behavior that might indicate distress include:

Increase isolation from friends and family
Unusual paranoia or fear
Mentions of feel unsafe
Significant mood change

Environmental concerns

External factors that might prompt a wellness check include:

Extreme weather events (heat waves, blizzards, etc. )affect someone vulnerable
Natural disasters in the person’s area
Power outage during temperature extremes
Reports of violence or disturbances at or near their residence

When to request a wellness check

Immediate concerns

Call for a wellness check instantly if:

You have reason to believe someone is in imminent danger
The person has explicitly threaten self harm and is immediately unresponsive
You’ve received information suggest a medical emergency
There be signs of potential violence or danger at the person’s residence

After reasonable attempts to contact

Before request a wellness check, try these steps:

Call and text the person multiple times
Contact friends, family members, or neighbors who might have seen them
If possible, try to reach out through different platfor( ( email, social media, et) )
Consider whether there might be an innocent explanation for their silence (travel, phone issues )

For vulnerable populations

The threshold for request a wellness check may be lower for:

Elderly individuals live lone
People with disabilities that affect communication or mobility
Individuals with know mental health conditions
Those with substance abuse issues who might be at risk of o.d.

How to request a wellness check

Contact authorities

To request a wellness check:

Call the non-emergency police number for the jurisdiction where the person live (unless you believe it’s a life threaten emergency, in which case call 911 / emergency services )
Clear state that your request a wellness check
Be prepared to provide the person’s full name, address, and contact information
Explain your relationship to the person and why you’re concern

Information to provide

Be ready to share:

When you last place have contact with the person
Any medical conditions or medications they take
Mental health history if relevant
Whether they have pets that might besides need attention
If they own weapons or if there be other safety concerns for respond officers
Names and contact information for other people who might have keys to the residence

What to expect after request a check

After you request a wellness check:

Officers will typically will visit the residence within a reasonable timeframe
They will attempt to make contact by will knock, calling, etc.
If there be no response but there be reason for concern, they may enter the residence if lawfully permit
You may or may not receive detailed information about what they find due to privacy laws

Special considerations for different situations

For elderly individuals

When concerned about an elderly person:

Consider contact their senior living facility staff if applicable
Adult protective services may be an alternative or additional resource
Have information about any cognitive impairments that might affect their response to officers
Be aware of routines that might explain an absence (regular medical appointments, etc. )

For people with mental health concerns

If the person has known mental health issues:

Inform authorities about their condition and how it might affect their behavior
Mention any previous history of crisis or hospitalization
Provide contact information for their mental health provider if you’ve it
Ask if a mental health professional can accompany officers if such services exist in that area

For long distance concerns

If you’re worried about someone far outside:

Try to contact local friends or family start who could check in person
Be specially clear and detailed when explain your concerns to authorities
Provide any information that help establish the legitimacy of your concern
Be prepared to explain why you, specifically, are make this request from a distance

Potential outcomes of wellness checks

Positive outcomes

Wellness checks can result in:

Confirmation that the person is safe
Medical assistance if you need
Connection to mental health resources
Intervention in dangerous situations
Peace of mind for concerned friends and family

Challenges and limitations

Be aware of potential issues:

The person might be upset about law enforcement involvement
Privacy concerns may limit what information you receive afterward
Not all situations warrant police intervention
Response times and protocols vary by jurisdiction

Alternatives to police wellness checks

Community resources

Consider these alternatives when appropriate:

Mobile crisis teams specialize in mental health
Social services agencies
Community health workers
Professional welfare check services (available in some areas )

Build a support network

For ongoing concerns:

Establish check in systems with vulnerable love ones
Create a phone tree of people who can check on someone
Consider technology solutions like medical alert systems
Explore regular check in services through community organizations

Preventive measures

Communication plans

To reduce the need for emergency wellness checks:

Establish regular check in schedules with vulnerable love ones
Create share calendars or notification systems for travel or schedule changes
Discuss expectations about communication frequency
Have a plan for what to do if someone doesn’t respond within an agreed timeframe

Technology solutions

Consider these options:

Medical alert devices with fall detection
Smart home systems that can detect unusual patterns
Location sharing apps with trust contacts
Automated check in services that alert emergency contacts if not respond to

Legal and ethical considerations

Privacy concerns

Important factors to consider:

Wellness checks involve a balance between safety and privacy
Consider whether your concern warrants potential intrusion
Be prepared to justify your request to authorities
Understand that false reports can have legal consequences

Potential for misuse

Be aware that wellness checks should ne’er be use:

To harass or intimidate someone
As a way to check if someone is home
To gain access to someone who has set boundaries
As a form of retaliation or control

When not to request a wellness check

Avoid request wellness checks in these situations:

When someone has explicitly asked for space or time unaccompanied
For brief periods of non communication that are normal for that person
When the person has oothersknow support systems check on them
If your concern is mainly curiosity kinda than genuine worry about safety
When there be less intrusive ways to verify someone’s well bee

Conclusion

Wellness checks serve as a vital safety net in our communities, potentially save lives when use befittingly. The decision to request one should be made thoughtfully, weigh genuine concern against respect for privacy and independence.

By understanding when wellness checks are rightfully necessary and how to request them decently, you can be an effective advocate for those who might need assistance but are unable to ask for it themselves. Remember that the goal is constantly the safety and wellbeing of the person in question, approach with compassion and respect.

If you’re always in doubt about whether to request a wellness check, err on the side of caution when there be legitimate safety concerns. It’s better to request assistance that turn out to be unnecessary than to hesitate when someone unfeignedly need help.