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My elderly mother is currently in the hospital and we had gone thru the steps to get a POA signed and a DNR but, and I'm embarrased to admit this, but I can't locate the documents. The POA was initiated at her Doctors office which we then had notorized at a local bank. But for the life of me I can't find these documents. My mother is very close to the point where I do have to start making decisions for her and with her in the hospital I need that signed DNR. What can I do? Do I have any options?

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With dementia, she may have hidden them or thrown them away. My MIL threw away the deed to the house!! When the rummaging phase begins, you have to lock up all important papers. Her doctor should have kept a copy of the MOLST papers. Call him.
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Your profile states mom has general age related decline. She can sign new documents, I would think. Then put them in a safe place after making multiple copies.
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If the POA to which you refer is a Medical POA, the doctor's office might have a copy on file. It would make sense to me that it would.

When were these executed? If sometime ago, you might want to get new ones executed if anything has changed, especially with regard to the DNR.

Have you checked with the IL facility at which your mother apparently was living (per your profile)? It would make sense that they would have copies, if any were distributed.
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Mom can do a new POA and DNR if she is competent. Did an attorney have any involvement in the preparation? That attorney should have an original. Even if mom is not competent, if she understands "in the moment" what she is signing new ones can be prepared.
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Keep digging around the house. Did Mom have a box where she kept important documents? My Dad has a strong box under the bed, my issue was finding which of the 101 keys I found around the house would open that box. Did Mom have a safe deposit box at a bank? Again, the hunt for the key, and hopefully you were a co-signer for her when she got the box.

Hopefully your Mom wasn't like my Dad as he got older. He started to throw out bills. I bet he would have thrown out the POA and Will if he got his hands on them.

If you are close to the point where you need to start making decision for your Mom, that tells me your Mom still has some clear memory times.

Once Mom gets out of the hospital, make an appointment with an Elder Law Attorney where he/she can draw up the documents and be signed in the office, and where the firm keeps a copy of the POA and DNR on file.

What about a Will? If you can't find the POA or DNR, I bet you can't find the Will, either. Maybe it is time to update the Will, too. I had to do that with my parents [who were in their 90's] as their previous Will was older than dirt with names on it who had passed decades ago.
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