Build a simple routine: one short daily check-in at a fixed time, one or two trusted people nearby who can visit, a written emergency plan, and saved helpline numbers on your parent's phone. A daily call service like RingThru can do the check-in for you and send a summary when time zones get in the way.
You are not alone in this. About 2.2 million people from Kerala live abroad, and 80.5% of them are in the Gulf. Student emigration nearly doubled to about 2.5 lakh by 2023, mostly to the UK, Canada and Australia. Meanwhile, 18.7% of Kerala's people are over 60 this year.
1. A daily check-in at a fixed time
A short call at the same time every day works better than a long call once a week. It builds a habit, and if one day there is no answer, you know something may be wrong. Choose a time that suits your parent, not just you: after breakfast or after the afternoon rest often works well.
2. A circle of people nearby
- One neighbour who can knock on the door if nobody answers.
- A relative who lives within 30 minutes.
- The local ward member, parish or temple committee, or Kudumbashree group.
- The phone number of the nearest hospital and a local taxi or auto driver you trust.
3. A written emergency plan
Keep one page near the phone at home and a copy on your phone: your parent's full name, date of birth, blood group, doctors, current tablets and allergies, and who to call first. In an emergency, 112 works across India.
4. Simple tech that actually gets used
- Big-button phones or a simple home screen with only the apps they use.
- A pill box with days of the week, filled once a week by someone nearby.
- Saved numbers for 112, 1930 (cyber fraud) and 14567 (Elderline, 8 AM to 8 PM).
- A daily check-in call service, if you can't call every day yourself.
5. Talk about scams before they happen
Elders are targeted by fake police, courier and KYC calls. Agree on one rule: before paying anyone, call family first. Read our guide on the digital arrest scam and share it with your parents.
When you visit
- Check the tablets, the expiry dates and the pill box.
- Walk through the house for trip hazards: loose mats, dark stairs, a slippery bathroom.
- Meet the neighbour and the relative in your circle in person.
- Update the emergency page.
Written by the RingThru team and checked against the official sources linked below. This guide is not legal or medical advice.