Help for Seniors Who Live Alone

Key Takeaways 💡

Who do I call first if my aging parent lives alone and needs help? The Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 connects you to every service in your zip code — meals, transport, home care, safety checks.

Is there a free service that checks on seniors every single day? Yes — many police and sheriff departments run free daily telephone reassurance programs, and apps like Snug Safety offer free daily check-ins.

What if my parent falls and can’t reach the phone? Medical alert systems with automatic fall detection can summon help even when the wearer is unconscious. They start around $20 per month.

Can the government send a companion to visit my lonely parent at home? Absolutely — the federally funded AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program sends trained volunteers into the homes of isolated seniors at no cost.

Does loneliness actually cause physical health problems? Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that social isolation increases the risk of dementia by 50 percent.

What about seniors who can’t afford to eat properly? Meals on Wheels at 1-888-998-6325 delivers nutritious meals directly to the homes of seniors who are homebound.

Is there a panic button for seniors who live alone? Multiple options exist — from Life Alert to Medical Guardian to MobileHelp — all providing 24/7 emergency response at the push of a button.

📞 1. The Eldercare Locator Answers in Under a Minute and Connects You to Every Resource in Your Zip Code

If you take one thing from this entire article, let it be this phone number: 1-800-677-1116. The Eldercare Locator was launched in 1991 and remains the only national information and referral resource that provides support across the full spectrum of issues affecting older Americans. It’s funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, administered by USAging, and it handles roughly 400,000 requests for help every year.

This isn’t a recording. This isn’t a website that sends you in circles. The National Call Center operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and when a trained specialist picks up, they’ll ask for a zip code — then pull up every single local program available for your loved one.

The Locator fields requests on topics ranging from transportation and housing to benefits eligibility and home and community-based services. For a senior living alone, this one call can unlock meal delivery, personal care aides, transportation to medical appointments, legal help, and companionship programs you never knew existed.

📞 Contact	☎️ Number	🕐 When to Call	💡 What Happens
Eldercare Locator	1-800-677-1116	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET	A specialist maps every resource available in your area
Live Chat and Text	Available on the Eldercare Locator website	Same hours	For those who prefer not to use the phone
🧡 Bonus	Completely free	No income requirement	Available for any older adult or family member in the U.S.

💡 Pro Tip: Call with your loved one’s zip code and a short list of their biggest daily struggles — meals, loneliness, transportation, medication management. The specialist will customize referrals to match those exact needs rather than giving you a generic list.

🛡️ 2. Free Daily Check-in Calls Exist Through Your Local Police Department — and Most Families Have No Idea

This is the single most underused safety net in the entire senior care system. Telephone reassurance programs are usually run by police or sheriff’s departments in hundreds of counties across the country and are usually provided free of charge. Yet ask most families, and they’ve never heard of them.

Here’s how they work. A computer-automated phone system calls your parent at a designated time each day to check in. If they answer, the system assumes everything is okay. But if they don’t pick up or the call goes to voicemail after repeated tries, you or whoever their designated emergency contact is gets a notification call.

For seniors who use smartphones, Snug Safety is a free app that has processed over 10 million check-ins and has been featured by AARP Magazine. For extra peace of mind, Snug’s premium plan at $10 per month will request an in-person wellness check by a police officer who visits the home to confirm the senior is okay.

For those who prefer paid services with live human callers:

📞 Service	☎️ Contact	💰 Cost	💡 How It Works
Local Police/Sheriff Check-in	Call your non-emergency police number	Free	Automated daily calls; alerts your contact if no answer
Snug Safety App	Download from app stores	Free (basic) / $10 per month (premium)	Daily smartphone check-in; premium adds police wellness visits
Iamfine	1-888-327-4637	$14.99 per month	Automated calls 1–2 times daily; alerts your care circle if missed
CareCheckers	1-888-477-0435	$14.95–$49.95 per month	Live human callers; medication reminders; customizable schedules
Assuratel	Available on their website	Approximately $8 per month	Daily automated wellness calls with emergency contact alerts

💡 Pro Tip: Many police departments, volunteer programs, and churches offer wellness calls for seniors that are free to their local community. Before paying for any service, call your county’s non-emergency police line and ask if they run a telephone reassurance program. You might be surprised.

🆘 3. Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection Can Summon Help Even When Your Parent Is Unconscious on the Floor

This is the scenario that haunts every adult child of an aging parent. A fall at night. Nobody there. No way to reach a phone. Fourteen million, or one in four Americans aged 65 and older, fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults.

Each year, there are approximately 3 million emergency department visits due to older adult falls and about 1 million fall-related hospitalizations. In 2021, falls caused 38,000 deaths among those 65 and older. And here’s the detail that stops you cold: elderly individuals who live alone have a statistically higher chance of falling and a higher risk of mortality from fall-related injuries compared to those living with others.

Medical alert systems with automatic fall detection have changed the equation dramatically. When a help button detects a fall, trained care specialists contact the wearer immediately through the system’s two-way speaker — even if the person is unable to press the button. Sensors measure high acceleration forces from a fall, and barometric sensors can detect changes in pressure such as going from a standing position to lying on the floor.

One study found that fall detection devices worn on the chest had a 98 percent accuracy rate.

📞 Provider	☎️ Contact	💰 Starting Price	💡 Standout Feature
Medical Guardian	1-800-313-1191	Around $30 per month	Fall detection with GPS; caregiver app
MobileHelp	1-800-992-0616	Around $20 per month	No landline needed; waterproof devices
Bay Alarm Medical	1-877-522-9633	Around $20 per month	72-hour battery; GPS tracking on the go
Philips Lifeline	1-855-681-5351	Around $30 per month	Hospital-grade fall detection technology
Medical Care Alert	1-800-800-7124	Around $28 per month	Free lockbox for EMS entry; shower-safe devices
Life Alert	1-800-360-0329	Varies (contact directly)	Trusted since 1987; 24/7 monitoring center

💡 Pro Tip: According to a February 2025 survey by the National Council on Aging, most medical alert system users said a fall triggered their decision to purchase a device. Don’t wait for the fall. More than one in four older adults fall each year, and falling once increases the chances of falling again. Get the system before the first fall, not after.

🤝 4. The Government Will Send a Trained Companion to Visit Your Lonely Parent at Home — Completely Free

This program is genuinely remarkable, and barely anyone outside of social work circles knows it exists. The AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program places volunteers who serve as friends and companions to older neighbors, making sure they can live in their own homes for as long as possible.

Senior Companion volunteers serve an average of 20 hours per week, with the majority of service taking place in the homes of their clients. Among other activities, they provide companionship to ease loneliness and social isolation, assist with transportation and light chores, help serve as eyes and ears for professionals who can intervene in case of medical or other deterioration, and give support to informal caregivers.

There is never a charge to the client or family member for a Senior Companion volunteer. And here’s the economic reality that makes this program even more vital: the average annual cost of a nursing home in the Houston area alone is $93,000, while Senior Companion volunteers serve in the home at a cost of approximately $6,500 per year — entirely covered by program funding, with zero cost to families.

📞 How to Find This	☎️ Contact	💡 Details
AmeriCorps Seniors	Call your local Area Agency on Aging	Federally funded; companions visit 15–40 hours per week
Eldercare Locator	1-800-677-1116	Will connect you to your nearest Senior Companion sponsor
Friend to Friend America	Contact through their website	Free volunteer visitors specifically for isolated seniors
🧡 Key Fact	Free for all clients	No income requirement for the senior receiving the visits

💡 Pro Tip: Senior Companion volunteers are themselves aged 55 and older, which means your parent isn’t being “assigned a helper” — they’re being matched with a peer who understands their generation. That distinction matters enormously for dignity and genuine friendship. Call your Area Agency on Aging and ask specifically about the Senior Companion Program by name.

🍽️ 5. Meals on Wheels Doesn’t Just Feed Seniors — It’s Often the Only Human Face They See All Day

Here’s the painful truth buried inside the meal delivery statistics. Meal delivery programs bring healthy, nutritious meals to a person’s home on a daily or weekly basis, and many services offer options for special diets and dietary restrictions. But the delivery isn’t just about food. For millions of seniors living alone, that knock on the door is the single point of human contact in an otherwise silent 24-hour cycle.

To find a meal delivery service in your area, contact Meals on Wheels America by calling 888-998-6325. Some local governments also provide low- or no-cost meals to older adults.

And if your parent is still mobile enough to leave the house, senior center congregate meals offer something even more valuable: other people. Sitting in a room with peers, sharing a meal, having an actual conversation — the health implications of that social contact are enormous given what the research tells us about isolation.

📞 Service	☎️ Contact	💡 What They Provide
Meals on Wheels America	1-888-998-6325	Home-delivered meals tailored to dietary needs; wellness checks
Senior Center Congregate Meals	Call Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116)	Group meals in social settings; activities and programming
SNAP Benefits for Seniors	1-800-221-5689 (USDA hotline)	Supplemental food assistance for income-eligible older adults
🧡 Hidden Benefit	Many programs are free	Delivery volunteers often double as informal wellness checks

💡 Pro Tip: If your parent resists meal delivery because of pride, reframe the conversation. These programs are funded under the Older Americans Act — they’re an earned benefit built into the social safety net, not charity. Your health care provider or local senior center can also recommend a service, which often feels more natural than having a family member push the idea.

🩺 6. Medicare, Social Security, and Veterans Benefits Each Have Separate Phone Lines — and Calling the Wrong One Wastes Weeks

This is where families lose the most time and the most patience. You’d think there would be one number for everything. There isn’t. And calling the wrong agency doesn’t just waste an afternoon — it can delay critical benefits by weeks.

Medicare’s general helpline at 1-800-633-4227 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for questions about claims, billing, and coverage. But for enrollment, eligibility, or reporting a lost Medicare card, you need to call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, available between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.

For information about how military benefits work with Medicare, call the VA health benefits hotline at 1-877-222-8387, available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays.

And here’s a critical detail for seniors struggling with prescription costs: the State Health Insurance Assistance Program at 1-877-839-2675 provides free, unbiased insurance counseling. These counselors don’t earn commissions and have no financial incentive to push any particular plan.

📞 Agency	☎️ Number	🕐 Hours	💡 Call Them For
Medicare General	1-800-633-4227	24/7 (except federal holidays)	Claims, billing, benefit questions, fraud
Medicare TTY	1-877-486-2048	24/7	Hearing-impaired callers
Social Security	1-800-772-1213	Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm local	Enrollment, eligibility, lost cards, SSI, name changes
Social Security TTY	1-800-325-0778	Same as above	Hearing-impaired callers
VA Health Benefits	1-877-222-8387	Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm ET	How VA benefits coordinate with Medicare
VA General Benefits	1-800-827-1000	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET	Pensions, disability, Aid and Attendance benefit
SHIP Counseling	1-877-839-2675	Business hours	Free, unbiased Medicare plan guidance

💡 Pro Tip: Wait times to speak to a Social Security representative are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month. Call Wednesday or Thursday morning during the first two weeks of the month for the shortest hold times.

🚗 7. Free Transportation Programs Exist in Almost Every County — and Medicaid Will Pay for Rides to the Doctor

When a senior living alone loses the ability to drive, their world shrinks to the size of their house overnight. Doctor’s appointments get missed. Groceries don’t get bought. Social connections evaporate. Various state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and companies offer transportation services for older adults, and public transit agencies often have discounted fares for older adults and people with disabilities.

Some transportation services are entirely free, including programs from state and local governments and some nonprofit organizations. And here’s the critical detail for low-income seniors: for people who do not have access to a ride, Medicaid provides transportation for emergency medical care and for doctor’s appointments.

📞 Service	☎️ Contact	💡 Details
Eldercare Locator (transportation)	1-800-677-1116	Identifies every ride option in your zip code
Medicaid Non-Emergency Transport	Call your state Medicaid office	Free medical transport for eligible seniors
Local Public Transit Senior Discounts	Your county transit authority	Reduced fares; wheelchair-accessible vehicles
VA Medical Transport	1-877-222-8387	Specialized transport for enrolled veterans
🚐 Ride Programs	Many senior centers offer rides	Grocery runs, pharmacy trips, social outings

💡 Pro Tip: If needed, you can request a vehicle that will accommodate a wheelchair, walker, or electric scooter. Always mention mobility equipment when booking — accessible vehicles are limited and must be reserved ahead of time.

🛡️ 8. If Something Feels Wrong About How Your Parent Is Being Treated, These Numbers Launch an Immediate Investigation

Nobody wants to make this call. But you do not need absolute proof to report suspected abuse, you do not have to give your name, and all calls are handled confidentially. Seniors living alone are particularly vulnerable to financial exploitation, neglect by paid caregivers, and scams targeting the elderly.

Adult Protective Services investigates cases of potential elder abuse, checking in with older people receiving in-home care or living with adult caregivers. Every state has its own reporting hotline.

📞 Service	☎️ Number	🕐 Hours	💡 When to Call
Eldercare Locator (abuse reporting)	1-800-677-1116	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET	Connects you to your state’s protective services agency
National Domestic Violence Hotline	1-800-799-7233	24/7	Elder domestic violence and abuse
Domestic Violence TTY	1-800-787-3224	24/7	Hearing-impaired callers
AARP Fraud Watch Helpline	1-877-908-3360	Business hours	Scams, financial exploitation targeting seniors
FINRA Senior Helpline	1-844-574-3577	Business hours	Investment fraud and financial exploitation
🚨 Emergency	911	24/7	Immediate physical danger

💡 Pro Tip: If the elder lives in another state, call the protective services agency where the elder lives, not where you live. If you’re a long-distance caregiver who can’t reach that state’s toll-free number, the Eldercare Locator will route you directly to the correct agency.

📋 Master Quick-Reference Contact Table

🔢	📞 Organization	☎️ Number	🕐 Availability
1	Eldercare Locator	1-800-677-1116	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET
2	Medicare	1-800-633-4227	24/7
3	Social Security	1-800-772-1213	Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm local
4	Meals on Wheels	1-888-998-6325	Business hours
5	VA Health Benefits	1-877-222-8387	Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm ET
6	VA General Benefits	1-800-827-1000	Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm ET
7	AARP	1-888-687-2277	Business hours
8	AARP Fraud Watch	1-877-908-3360	Business hours
9	SHIP Insurance Counseling	1-877-839-2675	Business hours
10	National Domestic Violence Hotline	1-800-799-7233	24/7
11	FINRA Senior Helpline	1-844-574-3577	Business hours
12	USDA Food Assistance	1-800-221-5689	Business hours
13	🚨 Emergency	911	24/7

Here’s the uncomfortable truth that nobody says out loud: even though loneliness and isolation rates have returned to roughly pre-pandemic levels, the researchers who study this say the baseline was never good to begin with, and it was especially bad for certain groups of older adults who continue to have very high rates. Older adults who report fair or poor physical health experience loneliness at 53 percent, and those with fair or poor mental health experience it at 75 percent.

Thirteen point eight million people are living alone. Some by choice. Some because everyone else is gone. The difference between a safe, connected aging experience and a dangerous, silent one often comes down to a single phone call that someone — a daughter, a neighbor, a friend — decides to make today instead of tomorrow.

Don’t wait for the fall. Don’t wait for the missed medication. Don’t wait for the silence to stretch into days. The numbers are right here. Use them.