So dad's stubbornness has left him without a legal POA or Will despite many attempts by us kids to bring an attorney to him (nursing home)?

If he hasn't given you permission to pay his bills, I don't think there is anything you can do but wait. You could possibly request a suspension of late fees and interest charges if you explain the situation to the creditors.
When he dies, he will die intestate. Then if he leaves anything, the estate may go through probate. His money can be used first to bury him. Then, his bills get paid and if there is anything left over, it is divided according to the state's intestate laws.
Try not to worry about it. It will work out. I'm sorry you are having extra stress at this sad time.

I think you will just have to let it go. Too late for guardianship. It takes a while and is expensive. Dad will need to be declared incompetent.

When he passes you can go to probate and be assigned the Administrator. This will give you the same rights as an Executor. Since there are no beneficiaries, though, his estate will be split between his closest living relatives.

A lot of people don’t make a will for one reason or another. I have a friend whose father was very smart and an engineer and just procrastinated every day and now he is 98 with full blown dementia and now he CAN’T draw up a will. When he dies, it will go to probate, the bills will get paid from his estate and then any left over money will go to his 4 heirs equally. It’s not unusual. People don’t want to think about dying.

We have one long-time poster here whose dad wouldn't update his will. She said "you know dad, it's so sad that so much of your money will be lost to the state". Yes, it's a fib, but what I think of as a therapeutic one.

I'm sorry for all the trouble this is, and is going to cause you.

Some folks think that if they make a will, they will die. I had an elderly friend like that. She was able to be convinced to make a trust instead.

Guardianship is one option. Speak with the social worker involved for suggestions. Of course when your father passes it will go to probate, and executor will be appointed and the bills will be paid. Remaining assets, if any will be divided according to the laws of your state. You might invest in one hour of time with an elder law attorney; in these times they will phone consult for reduced fee, to ask after options. Wishing you luck.

If he’s now too sick to make a will, or still unwilling, he will die without one. POA isn’t valid after death, so if his passing is close it won’t matter. The majority of people in the US die without a will in place. It then becomes up to probate court to make sure all of his bills are paid, if the estate he leaves is able to do so, and then to distribute what’s left to his heirs. I’m sorry your dad has put his family in this position, but it will be okay, it’s not unusual and the court system is accustomed to dealing with it.