Home / Answers / How do I set up emergency contacts and a medical ID on my parent's phone?
Answers

How do I set up emergency contacts and a medical ID on my parent's phone?

Open the phone’s health or safety settings, add emergency contacts, fill in a medical ID (conditions, medications, allergies, blood type if known), and turn on access from the lock screen so first responders can see it. Menu names differ by phone, so follow the maker’s instructions. Review it every few months.1

Updated October 2026.

The short version

  • Add emergency contacts who will answer.
  • Fill in the medical ID: conditions, medications, allergies.
  • Make it visible from the lock screen.
  • Keep it up to date.
  • Share the same information on a one-page sheet.

What to set up

  • Emergency contacts: two or three people, in the order they should be called, with their relationship.
  • Medical ID or medical info: medical conditions, medications, allergies, and anything responders should know.
  • Lock-screen access: so someone can see the information without unlocking the phone.
  • Emergency calling: check how the phone makes an emergency call, and show your parent.

Where to find it

On an iPhone, look in the Health app for Medical ID and emergency contacts. On an Android phone, look in Settings under safety and emergency, or medical information. The exact menus differ by model and software version, so check the phone maker’s support pages.

Keep it current

Review after any hospital stay, new diagnosis, medication change, or change in who lives nearby. Put a reminder on your calendar every few months.

Share the same information

Keep a one-page copy on the fridge and give one to each family member. See how to make an emergency plan. With KinectedCare, when your parent presses HELP, the alert also shows a CareID screen a stranger or first responder can use to reach the person’s people.1

Questions people ask

What should go in a medical ID?
Medical conditions, medications, allergies, an emergency contact, and anything a responder should know. Only add what your parent is comfortable sharing.
Can anyone see it on a locked phone?
If lock-screen access is on, yes: a person can see the medical ID without unlocking the phone. Talk with your parent about what to include.
Who should be the emergency contacts?
People who will answer and live nearby if possible. Two or three, in order, and tell each of them.
How often should it be updated?
After any change in health, medications or contacts, and review it every few months.
Does KinectedCare replace emergency services?
No. KinectedCare is not a medical device or an emergency service. If someone may be hurt, call local emergency services first.

Keep reading

Set up your family’s CareTeam in minutes.

Free to start on iOS and Android, no pendant, no contract.

Download KinectedCare free