Checking to see if Landline is working

I just spent over an hour and ten minutes trying to get my 83 year old mother’s landline checked. I called my mother and her home phone line is busy. We’re in  South Florida and we have summer storms every afternoon. My mother has fallen a few times recently and she has some dementia. Her CNA is not there this late in the day.  I called  AT&T to see if they could check her line. The first call was over 45 minutes and the CSR disconnected me. Second call was about 30 minutes and the rep would not check the line without me giving her the security passcode. I told her multiple times that ai did not want account information- I just wanted someone to check to see if it was a phone issue or line issue. I used to be able to dial zero and the operator would check to see if it was an open line (like phone was off the hook) or if the line was  damaged due to weather.  I can’t believe that information that was so easily attainable by dialing “0” twenty-five years ago, can’t be done today!!  AT&T, I am furious, frustrated and disappointed.  More so, because you’ve had my $300+ cell business for twenty years. That will be changing very soon. Thanks for nothing!!