My elderly parent isn’t answering the phone: what to do
A guide by Joey Tan, FiveClose · 8 November 2026
You've rung twice and it goes to voicemail. Most of the time there's an ordinary reason: the phone is on silent, the battery is flat, they're out, or they're asleep. But if your parent lives alone, it's sensible to have a plan, so you act quickly without panicking.
What to do, in order
- Try another way. Send a message, try their landline if they have one, and wait 15 to 30 minutes.
- Think about their day. Is it their usual time at the market, a class or a doctor's appointment? Would a brother, sister or friend know where they are?
- Ask someone nearby to knock. A neighbour, a friend of theirs or a relative who lives close. This is why it helps to agree on one in advance.
- If nobody can reach them and you're worried, call the emergency number for their address and say they live alone and can't be reached. Don't wait until tomorrow if something feels wrong.
When to act faster
- They have a heart condition, diabetes, recent falls or dizziness.
- They always answer, and this isn't like them.
- It's been more than a day with no message, call or other sign.
- The weather is very hot or very cold.
Making sure it's noticed sooner next time
The worry is worst when nobody knows how long it's been. A few things make it shorter:
- One small daily sign of life that runs on its own, such as opening an app on their phone.
- A short list of people who are told if that sign stops: you, a sibling, a neighbour.
- One person who takes it each time, so nobody assumes someone else has rung.
- A spare key with someone nearby, and their address and any medical details written down.
How FiveClose helps
FiveClose keeps a timer for your parent on their own phone. Just opening it counts as "I'm OK", and they need no account. If they go quiet, you're told first; if you can't reach them, the rest of their circle sees one task, Who's checking on Mum?, with who has taken it and how it went. For someone who lives alone you can be told after a day or two instead of a week. It's free. FiveClose is not an emergency service.