ACCESSWIRE
2025-04-29
How a simple daily call is helping cities safeguard seniors, reduce emergency calls, and build stronger community connections.
SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 29, 2025 / As the U.S. population ages, the quiet reality of living alone has become a public health concern. For the growing number of older adults who live independently, a single missed phone call can mark the difference between early intervention and a serious outcome.
More than 27 percent of adults over the age of 60 live alone. For many, it is a choice tied to autonomy and dignity. But as the baby boomer generation enters retirement and beyond, cities and public agencies are beginning to ask: How do we support independence without sacrificing safety?
One increasingly common answer is daily wellness check-ins. Among the systems providing them, ConfirmOk is helping reshape how local agencies, care teams, and families stay connected with their most vulnerable residents.
The Isolation Dilemma
The U.S. Surgeon General has identified social isolation as an urgent public health concern, linking it to cognitive decline, increased risk of disease, and early mortality. While much of the focus is often placed on emotional and mental health, the logistical risk of isolation, what happens when something goes wrong and no one knows, is equally serious. Ask any dispatcher, patrol officer, or neighbor who has been called for a wellness check, and they will tell you that moments like these are rarely predictable. Too often, they come too late.
"These are not just soft-touch problems," says Leon Smith, founder of ConfirmOk. "This is about time-sensitive safety. People have medical episodes, falls, or simply bad days and no one knows until it is too late."
A Simple System with a Measurable Impact
ConfirmOk offers a straightforward solution. Residents sign up to receive a daily automated phone call at a time they choose. If they answer and confirm that they are okay, the call ends. If they do not respond, the system attempts again. If there is still no response, it sends an alert to a designated contact - whether that is a family member, a care team, or a public safety agency.
There is no smartphone app required, no hardware to install, and no steep learning curve. Just a voice on the line each day checking in. It is the digital evolution of something communities have done informally for years, i.e. neighbors checking on neighbors. What makes ConfirmOk different is the consistency, the accountability, and the way it integrates with local safety networks.
Case Study: Plano, TX 911 Dispatch
One city putting this model into action is Plano, Texas, where the Plano Care Call Program uses ConfirmOk to reach out to residents each day and make sure no one slips through the cracks.
"Our Care Program provides regularly scheduled contact for those who desire support during their current circumstances," says the Plano Care Team. "Whether their needs are short term or long term, we offer reassurance and connection. If they become unreachable, an immediate response is initiated by their caring city to ensure their well-being."The team in Plano deserves enormous credit for building a thoughtful, responsive safety net for older and at risk residents. Their program reflects what is possible when technology and human compassion work together.
In Plano, if a resident does not answer a check-in call, a care team member follows up directly. If contact still cannot be made, the Plano Police Department is notified to conduct a welfare check, turning a missed call into a fast, coordinated response.
Their approach is more than a city service. It is a template for how communities everywhere can combine proactive outreach, daily connection, and rapid intervention to protect residents who live alone.
Why Cities Are Adopting This Approach
ConfirmOk builds on the legacy of RUOK and other early wellness check systems that relied heavily on office based hardware and manual processes. While those programs laid the foundation for daily outreach, they often required dedicated equipment, on site staffing, and ongoing maintenance, limiting how easily they could scale or adapt to modern agency workflows.
ConfirmOk is the next iteration of that model, designed with flexibility and simplicity in mind. It is fully web based, requires no physical hardware, and can be accessed from any device. This makes it easier for cities and counties to implement and manage, whether they are serving ten residents or several hundred.
But ease of use is only part of the story. Agencies are adopting ConfirmOk because it works. It reduces non urgent wellness checks, frees up time for dispatchers and officers, and delivers peace of mind to families and residents alike.
"Impact is very important to our mission and our north star," says Leon Smith, founder of ConfirmOk. "For many people, this is their only phone call for the day."
The system gives departments a way to proactively serve vulnerable members of the community without requiring significant staffing increases or complex infrastructure. It adds a layer of accountability and reassurance to the daily rhythm of people who might otherwise go unnoticed.
Looking Ahead
As more adults choose to age in place, programs like ConfirmOk offer a roadmap for cities that want to support independence without compromising safety. These systems are not a replacement for human care - they are an extension of it.
When no one checks in, ConfirmOk ensures someone does.
To learn more about ConfirmOk, visit www.confirmok.com or contact leon@confirmok.com.
SOURCE: ConfirmOk LLC
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
