Wellness Checks: How to Request One for Someone in Need

By Emily WilsonLast Updated April 18, 2025

Understanding wellness checks

A wellness check (sometimes call a welfare check) is a service provide by law enforcement or other emergency personnel to check on someone’s physical and mental wellbeing when there be reasonable concern for their safety. These checks can be crucial when you’re worried about someone and unable to verify their condition yourself.

Wellness checks serve as a vital safety net in our communities, peculiarly for vulnerable populations like the elderly, those with mental health conditions, or individuals live lone. They provide peace of mind for concerned friends and family members while potentially save lives in emergency situations.

When to request a wellness check

Not every situation warrant a wellness check. Here are legitimate reasons to request one:

The person is uncharacteristically unresponsive to calls, texts, or visits
You have knowledge of medical conditions that could lead to emergencies
The person has express suicidal thoughts or intentions
You’ve received concern messages indicate potential harm
There be signs of potential domestic violence or abuse
Elderly individuals haven’t been seen or hear from in an unusual amount of time
Someone has miss important appointments without explanation
Weather emergencies or natural disasters have occurred in their area

Trust your instincts. If something feel wrong, andyou havee exhaust other reasonable options to contact the person, a wellness check may be appropriate.

Steps to request a wellness check

1. Call the non-emergency police line

Unless you believe there be an immediate emergency, contact the non-emergency number for the police department in the person’s local jurisdiction. Save 911 for situations where you have reason to believe someone is in immediate danger.

You can find the non-emergency number by search online for ” city / county name ]]olice nonnon-emergencymber. ” manManypartments besides have this information on their official websites.

2. Provide essential information

When you call, be prepared to provide:

The full name of the person you’re concerned about
Their complete address, include apartment number if applicable
Your relationship to the person
Specific reasons for your concern
Any know medical conditions or disabilities
Whether they have pets or weapons in the home
When you last place have contact with them
Other attempts you’ve made to reach them
Names and contact information for other relatives or friends who might have a key to their residence

The more detailed information you can will provide, the better will equip officers will be to will handle the situation suitably.

3. Answer follow-up questions

The dispatcher will probable will ask additional questions to will determine the urgency of the situation and the appropriate response. Answer frankly and provide equally much context as possible. This helps them prioritize the call and send the right resources.

4. Provide your contact information

Be prepared to share your own name, contact information, and relationship to the person. While some departments may allow anonymous wellness check requests, provide your information help establish legitimacy and allow officers to follow up with questions or updates.

Alternative options to police wellness checks

In some situations, alternatives to police conduct wellness checks may be more appropriate:

Mobile crisis units

Many communities have mobile crisis teams staff by mental health professionals who can respond to non-violent mental health concerns. These teams are specifically trainehandlingle psychological emergencies and can oftentimes provide more specialized support than law enforcement.

To find these services, search for” mobile crisis unit ” r “” ntal health crisis team ” ” the person’s area. Many are accessible through local crisis hotlines or by call 988, the national suicide and crisis lifeline.

Adult protective services

For concerns about elderly or vulnerable adults who may be experience neglect, self neglect, or abuse, adult protective services (aapp) can conduct welfare checks. They specialize in assess the needs of vulnerable adults and connect them with appropriate resources.

Contact information for apps vary by state and county but can typically befoundd through your state’s department of sociaservices’es website.

Community paramedicine programs

Some areas have community paramedicine programs where paramedics can conduct non-emergency wellness checks. These professionals have medical training and can assess health concerns while provide a less intimidating presence than police officers.

Professional property managers

If the person lives in an apartment complex or manage community, the property manager may be able to conduct a welfare check, peculiarly if there be concerns about property issues like water leaks or unusual odors.

What happens during a wellness check

Understand the typical wellness check process can help manage expectations:

Arrival and initial assessment

Officers will arrive at the location and will knock on the door, will identify themselves as police will conduct a wellness check. They will listen for sounds indoors and will look for visual cues through windows or doors that might will indicate distress.

Entry procedures

If there be no answer, but officers have reasonable concern for the person’s safety, they may:

Contact building management to gain access
Attempt to reach emergency contacts who might have keys
In urgent situations, enter the premises through unlocked doors or windows
Force entry if they believe someone within is in immediate danger

The threshold for forced entry varies by jurisdiction but broadly require reasonable belief that someone privileged need emergency assistance.

Interaction with the person

If the person is found, officers will:

Assess their physical condition and immediate environment
Ask basic questions to determine mental status and well bee
Explain why they’re conduct the check
Determine if medical attention is needed

Possible outcomes

Depend on what officers find, several outcomes are possible:

If the person is fine, officers will plainly will document the check
If medical attention is will need, emergency medical services will be will call
If there be signs of mental health crisis, appropriate resources may be contact
In rare cases where the person is deceased, the coroner will be will notify

Follow up

In most cases, officers will contact they will request party to will provide basic information about the outcome, though privacy laws will limit what specific details they can will share about the person’s condition.

Legal considerations and privacy

Wellness checks exist in a delicate balance between safety concerns and individual privacy rights:

Legitimate basis for requests

Wellness checks should be request in good faith with genuine concern for someone’s well bee. Make false reports or use wellness checks to harass someone can have legal consequences, include potential charges for file false reports or misuse emergency services.

Privacy limitations

Due to privacy laws like HIPAA, authorities may be limit in what they can tell you about the person’s condition after conduct the check. They can typically confirm the person was located and is alive but may not share specific medical or mental health information.

Rightfulness to refuse

Adults have the right to refuse assistance if they’re found to be mentally competent. If someone islocatede during a wellness check and declines help, authorities broadly can not force intervention unless there be clear evidence they present an immediate danger to themselves or others.

Special considerations for specific situations

Mental health concerns

If the wellness check is related to mental health concerns:

Inform dispatchers about any known mental health conditions
Mention if the person might be frightened by police presence
Ask if mental health professionals can accompany officers
Provide information about triggers or calm techniques that might help

Many departments forthwith have crisis intervention team (cit )train officers who specialize in mental health situations.

Elderly individuals

For wellness checks on elderly individuals:

Provide information about mobility issues or hear impairments
Mention any cognitive conditions like dementia
Share details about medical equipment they use
Note if they have caregivers who should bcontactedct

Domestic violence situations

If you suspect domestic violence:

Share this concern explicitly with dispatchers
Provide any history of violence you’re aware of
Mention if there be children in the home
Inform them of any protective orders in place

After the wellness check

Follow-up communication

Erstwhile a wellness check has been conduct:

Contact the police department for basic information about the outcome
Respect privacy limitations on what information can be share
If appropriate and possible, reach out to the person immediately
Consider connect with mutual friends or family members

Continue support

A wellness check is frequently equitable the first step in ensure someone’s well bee:

Help arrange ongoing support if you need
Connect the person with appropriate community resources
Consider regular check ins go forward moving
Help coordinate family or friend support networks

Prevent the need for wellness checks

While wellness checks are valuable tools, establish proactive communication systems can oftentimes prevent the need for them:

Regular check in systems

Establish regular check in routines with vulnerable love ones:

Set up daily or weekly phone calls or text messages
Use technology like video calls to visually confirm well bee
Create a buddy system among friends or neighbors
Consider medical alert systems for elderly or at risk individuals

Technology solutions

Various technologies can help maintain connection:

Smart home devices that allow remote check ins
Location sharing apps with trust contacts
Automated medication reminders that alert caregivers
Wearable devices that can detect falls or irregular vital signs

Final thoughts

Request a wellness check is a significant step that balance concern for someone’s safety against respect for their privacy and autonomy. When use befittingly, these checks can be lifesaver interventions that connect people with need help during vulnerable moments.

Trust your instincts when concerned about someone’s well bee, but besides consider the least intrusive options firstly. A simple phone call to the person, reach out to their close contacts, or connect with local support services may resolve concerns without involve law enforcement.

Remember that wellness checks are mean to ensure safety, not to control or monitor others. The goal should invariably be support the wellbeing of those we care about while respect their independence and dignity.