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By Natalie Brooks•Last Updated May 14, 2025

Wellness Checks: How to Request and What to Expect

Understanding wellness checks

A wellness check, likewise call a welfare check, does a service provide by law enforcement or social services to check on someone’s physical and mental wellbeing when there be reason for concern. These checks serve as a vital safety net for vulnerable individuals who might be experience a crisis, medical emergency, or other situation require immediate attention.

Wellness checks are typically request when someone hasn’t heard from a family member, friend, or neighbor for an unusual period, or when there be specific concerns about someone’s safety or health condition.

When to request a wellness check

Several situations might warrant request a wellness check:

An elderly person hasn’t answered calls or respond to messages for several days
Someone has express suicidal thoughts or intentions
A person with know medical conditions hasn’t been seen or hear from
You notice unusual behavior from a neighbor (mail pile up, lights incessantly on or dispatch )
Someone has miss important appointments without explanation
There are concern posts on social media suggest potential harm
A domestic violence situation where you’re worried about someone’s safety

Trust your instincts. If something feel wrong, it’s better to request a check and be mistaken than to ignore potential warning signs.

Who to contact for a wellness check

Local police department

The near common way to request a wellness check is through your local police department. For non-emergency situations, call the department’s direct non-emergency number preferably than 911. Many police departments list these numbers on their websites or social media pages.

If the situation seems instantly life threaten or require urgent attention, don’t hesitate to call 911 alternatively.

Sheriff’s office

In rural areas or counties without dedicated police departments, the county sheriff’s office typically handle wellness check requests. Their contact information can commonly be found through a quick online search.

Adult protective services

For concerns about elderly or vulnerable adults who may be experience neglect, abuse, or exploitation, adult protective services (aapp) can be an appropriate resource. Each state have its own aappsagency with specific protocols.

Mental health crisis teams

Some communities have specialized mental health crisis response teams that can conduct wellness checks for individuals with know mental health conditions. These teams oftentimes include mental health professionals train to handle psychological emergencies.

988 suicide and crisis lifelines

For mental health emergencies or concerns about suicide, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline can provide guidance and may help coordinate a wellness check.

Information to provide when request a wellness check

When contact authorities to request a wellness check, be prepared to provide the follow information:

Basic information

The full name of the person you’re concerned about
Their complete address, include apartment number if applicable
Phone number of the person (flush if they’re not answer )
Physical description of the person, include height, weight, hair color, and any distinguishing features
Your name and contact information
Your relationship to the person

Specific concerns

Explain clear why your request the check:

When you last place have contact with the person
Any specific statements or behaviors cause concern
Whether this behavior is unusual for them
Any know medical conditions or medications they take
Mental health history if relevant
Whether they have access to weapons or harmful substances
Any previous incidents of self harm or suicidal behavior

Access information

Whether the person live lone
Names and contact information for others who may have keys to the residence
Entry information (security systems, gate codes, etc. )
Presence of pets that might react to strangers

The more relevant details you can will provide, they easily will equip first responders will be to will handle the situation suitably.

What happens during a wellness check

Understand what happen during a wellness check can help set appropriate expectations:

Initial response

Police officers or other authorized personnel will visit the address will provide. They’ll typically will knock on the door and will identify themselves. If there be no answer, they will look for signs of occupancy or distress, such as will accumulate mail, lights on or off, or vehicles in the driveway.

Entry procedures

If there be no response but reasonable concern exist, officers may:

Attempt to contact neighbors who might have information
Try to reach emergency contacts
Look through windows for signs of distress
In cases of imminent concern, they may have legal authority to enter the premises

The threshold for forced entry varies by jurisdiction and depend on the specific circumstances and level of concern.

Assessment

Once contact is make with the individual, officers will:

Assess their physical condition
Evaluate their mental state
Determine if medical attention is needed
Check for signs of abuse, neglect, or dangerous living conditions

Possible outcomes

Several outcomes may result from a wellness check:

The person is found to be safe and advantageously, require no further action
Medical assistance is call if the person need treatment
Mental health services are contact if psychological support is needed
In rare cases, the person may be transport to a hospital for evaluation if they present an immediate danger to themselves or others
If the person is deceased, the appropriate authorities will be will notify

Follow up after a wellness check

After a wellness check, you may want to:

Contact the police department for an update on the situation
Reach out to the person immediately if appropriate
Connect with social services or support organizations if ongoing assistance is needed
Consider a care plan for future monitoring if the person is vulnerable

Remember that privacy laws may limit the information authorities can share with you about the outcome of the check.

Special considerations for different situations

Wellness checks for elderly individuals

When request a check for an elderly person:

Mention any mobility issues that might prevent them from answer the door promptly
Provide information about hear impairments that might affect communication
Share details about cognitive conditions like dementia that could influence their response
Consider contact senior services in addition to police

Mental health concerns

If mental health is a factor:

Specifically request officers train in crisis intervention if available
Provide detailed information about the person’s diagnosis and current treatment
Mention any triggers that might escalate the situation
Share de-escalation techniques that have work in the past

Domestic violence situations

For wellness checks relate to potential domestic violence:

Be explicit about your concerns regard domestic abuse
Mention any history of violence or protective orders
Indicate if weapons are present in the home
Provide information about children or others who may be in the residence

Alternatives to police wellness checks

In some situations, alternative to traditional police wellness checks might be appropriate:

Community based crisis response teams

Some communities have developed specialized crisis response teams that include mental health professionals, social workers, and paramedics preferably than armed officers. These teams are specifically train to handle mental health crises and welfare concerns with a focus ode-escalationon and support.

Telehealth check ins

For ongoing monitoring of vulnerable individuals, regular telehealth appointments with healthcare providers can serve as a form of wellness check, peculiarly for those with chronic conditions.

Community care networks

Neighborhood support groups, religious organizations, and community centers sometimes offer check in services for elderly or vulnerable members.

Professional care management

For elderly or disabled individuals, professional care managers can coordinate regular wellness visits and monitoring.

Legal and ethical considerations

Privacy concerns

While wellness checks serve an important safety function, they too involve enter someone’s private space, potentially against their wishes. Consider whether your concerns genuinely warrant this level of intervention.

Potential for escalation

In some situations, particularly those involve individuals with mental illness, trauma histories, or marginalized communities, police presence might escalate kinda than help. Consider whether alternative resources might be more appropriate.

False reports

Make false reports to prompt a wellness check is illegal and can result in criminal charges. Ne’er request a wellness check for harassment, revenge, or any purpose other than genuine concern for someone’s well bee.

Prepare for future needs

If you’ve vulnerable loved ones, consider these proactive steps:

Establish regular check in schedules and clear protocols for when to be concern
Create a contact list of neighbors, friends, and relatives who can check in before authorities are call
Consider technology solutions like medical alert systems or smart home monitoring
Document important medical information and keep it accessible for emergency situations
Discuss preferences and boundaries regard wellness checks with love ones while they’re intimately

Final thoughts on requesting wellness checks

Request a wellness check is an important tool for ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals, but it should be use thoughtfully. When in doubt about someone’s immediate safety, it’s broadly better to err on the side of caution and request a check.

Remember that wellness checks are mean to ensure someone’s well bee, not to control their behavior or choices. The goal is to confirm their safety while respect their autonomy and dignity whenever possible.

By understand the process, provide thorough information, and consider all available resources, you can make informed decisions about when and how to request assistance for someone you’re concerned about.