Athnova CareNo smartphone? A daily phone-call check-in for elderly parents
For parents with a basic phone or a landline: how a daily check-in call works, what happens if they miss it, and how to set it up from abroad.
By the Athnova Care team · Updated
Why a phone call works when apps do not
Many parents in their seventies and eighties will answer a ringing phone every time, but will not open an app, read a notification or remember a password. Some have a feature phone or only a landline; others have a smartphone they use for calls and little else. For them, a daily check-in has to arrive the way they already live: as a phone call.
A daily check-in call is short and always the same. It rings at the time you chose, speaks in their language, asks one question, and listens for a key press. It is not a conversation and it is not a doctor. It is a daily signal that your parent is at home, reachable and managing.
How the Athnova Care daily call works
- At the time you pick, on their clock, we call their number: mobile or landline.
- In their language: "If you have taken your medicines today, press 1. If not, press 2. If you want your son or daughter to call you, press 3. To stop these daily calls, press 9."
- Their answer reaches the family app straight away. Pressing 3 alerts you at once, with a button to call them back.
- No answer: we try again an hour later, and once more an hour after that.
- Still no answer after three calls: you and your family are alerted, and then the neighbour or relative you chose is asked to look in.
What a call can do, and what needs WhatsApp
| Daily call | WhatsApp check-in | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily "I am all right" signal | Yes | Yes |
| Medicines taken today | Yes (1 or 2) | Yes (buttons) |
| "Please call me" | Yes (3) | Yes (button) |
| Alerts to family and local contacts when silent | Yes, after three calls | Yes, after a reminder and calls |
| Photos of reports, prescriptions and BP readings | No: the family can upload them in the app | Yes |
| Afternoon, evening and night medicine reminders | No | Yes |
| Works on a landline or basic phone | Yes | No |
Setting it up from abroad in five minutes
- Tell your parent first: a call will come from an international number, once a day, to ask how they are. Ask them to save the number as "Athnova Care".
- In the app, add your parent and choose "Phone call" instead of "WhatsApp message". Enter the number with its country code.
- Tap "Call now". We explain the daily call in their language and ask them to press 1 to agree. Nothing starts without that.
- Pick a time when they are usually at home and near the phone, for example after the morning puja or before lunch.
- Add one or two people nearby who can knock on the door if your parent does not answer.
Tips from families who use it
- Choose a time, not a routine: "9:30 AM" works better than "after breakfast".
- If your parent is hard of hearing, sit with them on a video call during the first daily call so they know what to expect.
- Keep the landline charged and plugged in: cordless landline handsets die in power cuts.
- Tell the neighbour on your list what an alert means, so they are not alarmed when asked to look in.
- If your parent later starts using WhatsApp, you can switch them over in settings; we ask for their agreement again.
Other options you may find
| Type of service | Examples | Good at | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated daily call, US seniors | Senior Call ($9.99 a month), IAmFine ($14.99 a month), AssureOkay Plus ($8.99 a month) | Simple daily call on any phone | Built for parents in the US, in English |
| Human wellness calls, India | Care-manager and wellness-call services such as Zospital NRI Parent Care, Samarth and Emoha | A person talks to your parent | Monthly fees vary widely; check each provider |
| Daily call in their language, any country | Athnova Care | Ten Indian languages and English, calls in 25 countries, family and neighbour alerts | Not an emergency service |
Prices and features of other services are as published on their own websites in September 2026 and may have changed.
What it is not
A daily call is a safety net, not medical care and not an emergency line. If your parent is unwell, they should call the emergency number where they live (112 in India, 108 for an ambulance in most states), and you should call their doctor.
Questions families ask
Does my parent need a smartphone or WhatsApp?
No. The daily call works on any phone, including a landline. They answer and press a key.
What if they do not answer?
We call again an hour later and once more after that. After three unanswered calls, you and your family are alerted, and then the local contact you chose.
Which languages can the call speak?
Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi and English.
Can my parent stop the calls?
Yes. They press 9 on any call, and you are told.
Does it cost extra?
No. It is part of the same plan: $12 a month or $99 a year for the whole family, after a 14-day free trial that needs no card.
Sources
Related guides
- Daily check-ins for elderly parents living alone in India
- Setting up WhatsApp for elderly parents: a simple, safe configuration
- Ways to check on elderly parents in India from abroad: 7 options compared
- SOS devices and smartwatches vs daily check-ins for parents in India
Athnova Care tracks and coordinates care. It does not diagnose, prescribe or replace a doctor. In a medical emergency in India call 112.