Resources

Crisis lines and someone to talk to

Free lines to call or text right now, day or night, for older adults and the family who care for them, in the U.S. and around the world.

Do this first

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 in the U.S., or your local emergency number. If no one is in immediate danger but you or your loved one need to talk now, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    For anyone in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, or worried about someone, including a caregiver at the end of their rope. Free, confidential, any time.

    In Spanish: call 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988.

  • Friendship Line (Institute on Aging)

    For adults 60 and over, adults living with disabilities, and caregivers. A free, confidential line to talk, answered day and night.

    Spanish: 1-888-571-0411. Its website lists numbers for Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

  • Crisis Text Line

    Text with a trained volunteer crisis counselor, any time. Good when talking out loud is hard, or you can't be overheard.

  • Veterans Crisis Line

    For veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve, and the family and friends who care about them.

    You don't need to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care.

  • Emergency

    If someone is in immediate danger or has been hurt.

Outside the United States

You don't have to be suicidal to call a crisis line. Feeling overwhelmed, scared, exhausted or alone is reason enough. These lines are free and confidential. The people who answer have heard it all before.

For caregivers at the end of their rope

Caregiving can bring moments of despair, anger or fear that you might hurt yourself or the person you care for. Those moments are a sign you need support now, not a sign you are a bad person. Call or text 988 and say exactly that. Then see When caregiving gets lonely and Caring for the caregiver.

For an older adult who just needs a kind voice

The Institute on Aging's Friendship Line (; Spanish ) is answered day and night for adults 60 and over, adults living with disabilities, and caregivers. It is not only for emergencies: many people call simply to talk. Write the number on a card by their phone.

The 988 Lifeline (U.S.)

Call 988, text 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org (opens in a new tab), any time. For Spanish, call 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988. You can call 988 about someone else, too: counselors can help you work out what to say and what to do next.

If you are worried about your loved one

  • If they are in immediate danger, call 911 and stay with them if it is safe for you.
  • Ask directly: "Are you thinking about ending your life?" Suicide prevention experts say asking does not put the idea in someone's head.
  • Listen without arguing. Help them call a crisis line, and offer to sit with them while they do.
  • If you can do it safely, remove or lock away things they could use to hurt themselves, including stockpiled medicines.
  • Tell their doctor.

If you suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older adult, see Financial exploitation and Safety.

Sources

Last reviewed: October 9, 2026