Crisis planning when you're alone in Spain

Terms used

• Teleasistencia — Teleasistencia is a pendant or home device that connects you to a 24-hour call centre at the press of a button.
• Servicios sociales — Servicios sociales are the local social services office, where you apply for public support such as teleasistencia.
• Policía Nacional — The Policía Nacional is Spain's national police force, reached on 091.
• Guardia Civil — The Guardia Civil is Spain's national gendarmerie police force, reached on 062.

Key rules

• Emergency number: Call 112 for any emergency: it is free, works 24 hours and covers ambulance, fire, police and rescue.
• Neighbour: Give one or two close, trusted people a key, your contact sheet and a clear plan for a missed signal.
• Medical card: Keep an emergency card in your wallet and on the fridge, and set up your phone's lock-screen medical information.
• Daily check-in: Do not rely on one person: add teleasistencia or a regular volunteer call.

Start with four things

A safety net for one person has four parts: emergency numbers, medical details someone else can find, a neighbour with a key, and a daily check-in. You can set up all four in an afternoon. The documents list and the choice between check-in options are below, so this page does not repeat them.

Save the emergency numbers

Call 112 for any emergency: it is free, works 24 hours and covers ambulance, fire, police and rescue. The operator also receives your location.

Save these in your phone and write them on a card as well:

• 091 for the Policía Nacional and 062 for the Guardia Civil.
• 092 for the local police in most towns.
• 061 for health emergencies in many regions. The number varies by region, so check yours locally.
• 024 for the mental-health crisis and suicide-prevention line.
• 016 for gender-violence victims. It is free and confidential, leaves no trace on the phone bill, works in many languages and also by WhatsApp on 600 000 016.
• 116 111 for the child helpline.
• 900 202 202 for Salvamento Marítimo, if you are at sea. 112 also works there.

Add your embassy, your doctor and your insurer to the list.

Make your medical details easy to find

Responders look first for ID, wallet cards, phone lock-screen data, bracelets and a paper on the fridge. Cover as many of these as you can:

• A paper emergency card in your wallet and a copy on the fridge. List conditions, medication, allergies, blood type and emergency contacts.
• Medical ID on an iPhone, or the emergency information on Android. Both can be read from the lock screen.
• A medical alert bracelet or tag if you have allergies, take anticoagulants, have diabetes or have an implant.
• Your regional health app or portal, which may hold your summary record. These differ by region.

Keep your health card number and insurance details with the card. Your documents list below shows exactly what to note.

Choose a neighbour and brief them

Pick one or two trusted people who live close. Tell them clearly what you are asking, and ask whether they agree.

• Give them a spare key, or a coded key box whose code only they know. Write down that you consent.
• Give them a sheet with your emergency contacts, medication, allergies, doctor, insurer and any pet-care details. Tell them where your fridge or wallet card is.
• Agree a daily signal, such as opening the shutters by a set time or sending a morning message.
• Agree what they do if you miss it: call you, knock, then call 112. If they need to get in, the police or fire service can do it.
• If it suits your building, tell the community administrator or concierge too.

Review the details every few months and whenever a contact changes.

Set up a check-in beyond one person

A neighbour can be away, so add a second layer. Spain has teleasistencia, a pendant or home device linked to a 24-hour call centre. Councils and regions run it, and access is usually through your local servicios sociales office. Older, dependent or isolated people get priority. Availability, waiting lists and fees vary by town and region.

Cruz Roja, Cáritas and local volunteer groups run regular phone calls for people living alone. Private teleasistencia is also available for a monthly fee. The choice below helps you compare them.

Register with your embassy if you can

Many countries let you register with your consulate or join a crisis register. If yours does, it can contact you in a crisis and share alerts. It does not guarantee evacuation. You usually register online or at the consulate. Keep your details up to date. Whether registration exists, and whether it is mandatory, depends on your country.

Choosing between options

Who should check on you each day when you live alone?

• A neighbour or nearby friend: You have one or two trusted people close by. Give them a spare key or a coded key box, a sheet with your contacts and medication, and agree a daily signal such as opening the shutters by a set time.

• Teleasistencia from social services: You are older, dependent or isolated. Ask your local social services office for a pendant or home device linked to a 24-hour call centre.

• Regular calls from a charity or volunteer group: You want company as well as a check-in.

• Private teleasistencia: You do not qualify for the public service or face a waiting list. It costs a monthly fee.

Use a neighbour for a daily signal and add teleasistencia if you have a health condition or no one lives close. If your neighbour misses your signal, they call, knock, then call 112. Also register with your embassy if your country offers it, so it can reach you in a crisis.

Documents you need

• Your tarjeta sanitaria (regional health card), issued by your region's health service. Note its number (CIP or regional equivalent), your Social Security number and your assigned health centre.

• Your private insurance policy details, if you have them: insurer name, policy number, policyholder's name and the 24-hour assistance phone.

• Your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or S1 certificate, if you are covered from abroad. Note the number, expiry date, issuing country or registering institution.

• Your NIE or passport number and your date of birth, since hospitals ask for identity.

• A paper emergency card listing your conditions, medication, allergies, blood type and emergency contacts, kept in your wallet and on the fridge. Add the numbers of your embassy, doctor and insurer.

• Your embassy or consulate registration confirmation, if your country offers registration. It is usually done online or at the consulate.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a teleasistencia pendant if I live alone in Spain?

Yes, teleasistencia is a pendant or home device linked to a 24-hour call centre, but access depends on your council and region. Ask your local social services office (servicios sociales), which gives priority to older, dependent or isolated people.

Is there anyone who will phone me regularly if I live alone?

Yes, several groups run regular befriending calls for people living alone, mainly older adults. Cruz Roja, Cáritas, Fundación Cruz Blanca and local volunteer groups all offer them, and many councils run their own. Start by asking your local social services office.

Does registering with my embassy help in a crisis?

Yes, where your country offers registration, it lets your embassy or consulate contact you, send alerts and help with assistance, though it does not guarantee evacuation. Rules differ by country, and some only run voluntary traveller registers. If your country has no office in Spain, EU citizens can ask another EU country's embassy for help.

What health details should I put on my emergency card?

Put your health card number, Social Security number, health centre and insurer details, plus your NIE or passport number and date of birth. Add the EHIC number and expiry date, or the S1 certificate, if you are covered from abroad. Keep copies of the cards with the emergency card.