Can it call my elderly parent instead of me?

Yes — but not the way most people assume, so read this before you subscribe.

ReminderCall always calls the number the account is registered to. There is no field for a second number: you can't sign in with your own number and type your mother's in as the destination. To have the calls reach her, the account has to be set up with her number.

That's usually straightforward. Sign-up sends a one-time code by text to the number you enter, so you set the account up either sitting with her, or on a call while she reads you the code. The app can then live on your iPhone — you write and schedule the reminders, and her phone is what rings. Nothing gets installed on her end, and there's nothing for her to learn: the phone rings, and a clear voice reads your words out loud — "Time for the evening tablets, they're in the blue box."

The landline catch. Because the setup code arrives as a text, a landline that can't receive SMS can't complete sign-up. If her only phone is a landline, this won't work — use the free trial to confirm before you rely on it, and see reminder options for parents without smartphones for what does work in a landline household.

Do this with their agreement. A surprise robocall is confusing; a call they expect ("I've set your pill reminder to call at 8, Mum") is reassuring and keeps their sense of independence intact.

Honest note: for critical medication, a call is a strong reminder layer, not a guarantee — pair it with a weekly pill organizer or an occasional human check. ReminderCall is a reminder service, not a medical device.

Full guides: medication reminder calls for elderly parents · daily check-in call alternatives for seniors.