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Dad finally had that hospital visit. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He just went to rehab facility yesterday. I'm finding I'm going to have to get POA. So if I just get medical POA, can I sign anything for him? As in do I have to be careful it's not a financial thing?I'm probably going to be consulting with a lawyer with the Medicaid stuff soon but I'd like to print out a POA form ASAP and get that signed because especially with his tremors. He was having a lot of trouble signing papers yesterday. My brain is spinning. Edited to add-should I just get both medical and financial? I was trying to avoid financial but he's going to need someone to write checks.

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Short answer...yes, they are two different documents
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Reply to Evonne1954
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It's possible (and often desirable) for the health-care POA and the financial POA agents to be different people.
Someone above suggested that the health-care POA and the financial POA can be one document. If this is even legal in your state (I don't think it is in mine), I recommend against it.
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Reply to Rosered6
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slkcma: Retain an attorney posthaste.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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You both need to go to an attorney ASAP.
I would first sit down with Dad and have a true heart to heart about what he’s desires are for his current situation and finally wishes. And begin making those arrangements together if possible.
Enjoy as much as possible good times together and do some of his bucket list together, while he still has time. Get a recorder and have him tell you stories of the past and laugh and make each other know how much you both meant to one another recording it all so you will have him with you forever.
You will definitely need POA of both financial and medical to take care of him and business.
That is of course if that is his desire. It is 100% his choice.
When you go to attorney he needs to be alone with attorney to make his trust / will so that no family member can attest that there was undue influence. If you and he feel that having the financial power will cause conflict with other family members then he could hire a fiduciary to handle the financial portion.
I wish you and your father the best journey together.
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Reply to Jennytrying
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If you decide to become Dad's financial POA, see a Certified Elder Law Attorney ASAP. (Your plan to take your sister and SIL with you is excellent so that everyone knows what is going on, but only ONE of you should be the financial POA at a time. For example, you should be POA now, with your sister or one of your mom's grandchildren designated as the successor POA, in case you become unable or unwilling to serve at some point.)

When you see the attorney, make sure you get a durable POA, which is a financial POA that goes into effect as soon as it is signed. The other option is a "springing" POA, which only goes into effect if two (usually, depends on state) doctors certify that Dad is incompetent to handle his own affairs, and many doctors are reluctant to do that. So with a "springing" POA you would have a whole new set of hoops to jump through to get that certification from the doctors, whereas an immediate POA skips that step.

Also, establishing a relationship with the attorney is important for when issues with the POA arise, which they will. Banks are notoriously sticky about accepting POAs, even those meticulously prepared by attorneys, so you may need to contact the attorney again in the future for help with that. For example, for my mom, the banks wanted not only the POA but also a letter from the attorney who prepared it, testifying that the POA was legitimate. Each time, the attorney responded immediately, and I had the letter in hand within a couple of hours, which was hugely helpful.

I wish you the best. POA is NOT a fun job, but it is an important one, and it needs to be done right in order to protect yourself as well as your mom.
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Reply to mom2mepil
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I had a POA for both my mum and sister. I did NOT get put on the bank accounts. I don't know if it the same everywhere but where I'm, if you are on a bank account you become liable for debt connected to that account / person. I also had a TOD transfer on death on both so I could pay bills after they were gone. The person will have to go to the bank to fill out papers, but it has made my job of paying their bills now that they are gone.
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Reply to Dindinllama
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I am POA for my mom and my siblings are cosigners on her checking account. We have together been managing her financial affairs for several years now and I have not once had to dust off that POA and try to get a bank to accept it. My advice is yes, go to an eldercare attorney, but practically it would be so much easier in the short term if you could get yourself added as a signer to your dad's account. Because then you can pay the bills and and with online accounts and autopay everything becomes less burdensome.
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Reply to Jennyjenjen
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Durable power of attorney. Covers both and active at signing. If parent is competent, you don’t have to exercise the POA right away but you are ready to go when they are not able to manage affairs. You need a good lawyer to get this completed asap while parent is still able to assign a POA. You will need to provide bank copies and this will allow you to manage their finances. Also joint tenant on all bank accounts allows you access to their money to pay their bills and set up auto pay. POA does not make you financially responsible for any of their bills. It allows you access to their funds to manage and write checks on their account. Adding you as a joint tenant with right of survivorship to his checking and savings accounts does the same but dad would need to accompany you to do this at the bank.
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Reply to Beethoven13
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Some states require 2 witnesses to be valid
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Reply to MACinCT
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Isthisrealyreal Aug 3, 2025
Mac, the great thing about forms from the AG office, they are crystal clear in what they require. 1 or 2 witnesses, notary or whatever state law requires for legality is right there on the form.
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Slk, I downloaded the forms from the AZ Attorney General website for my dad, Durable General POA, Durable Medical POA and Durable mental health care POA. The hospital admin office sent a notary up to his room and my husband was the witness. Done and done.

I did his banking online, he gave me permission and I took him to the bank, he wanted me jointly on his account, which was very short lived, I wasn't going to be responsible for his bad choices, it changed to POD and I continued to handle his finances online without the potential of having to pay the consequences for his choices. I recommend setting her up online, with her permission of course, and dealing with the finances that way.

Never, ever sign any admission paperwork with out having DGPOA, you will put yourself on the hook legally for paying the bill. Every single form/admission paperwork for ANY medical treatment or facity has a financial responsibility agreement within it, if someone says it doesn't, they lie.

If these POA forms are from your states AG office, they meet ALL the legal requirements to be valid and enforceable. Just my personal experience with online forms.
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Reply to Isthisrealyreal
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slkcma Aug 2, 2025
Thank you so much for the info!
Dad never learned to use or had internet so unfortunately no online account. He doesn't even have an ATM card with his account.
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I advise against a form from the computer for POA. No bank will accept such a form and many entities you will have to deal with will not. A financial POA should be done with an attorney. One will be happy to visit with you and Dad in hospital or in rehab to get this form done so that you can act for your father. This will be a form he wishes you to act on right away. You don't seem to understand POA form and obligations and duties, so you more than ever need this attorney involved. THERE WILL BE COST. Medical POA is nothing much but an Advance Directive your Dad will make out with you and perhaps a social worker together, with you as his agent to implement his wishes for heroic measures/or not when/if he is unable to make his own decisions. You cannot do ANYTHING legal with it such as signing up to get and pay bills.

POA involves many things including meticulous record keeping.
Think well before deciding to do this. Right now you can get medical to help manage Dad's hospitalizations and so on.

What is the best thing for you right now to do? Call in the social workers at the facility where Dad is currently and speak with them about how to act for him as his next of kin now. Contact an elder law attorney to speak on phone about how to proceed with POA. And look up all you can by googling "POA rights and duties state of _________".
Good luck. An emergency is no time to do this, yet it is when my brother and I did have to after an auto accident resulted in his being diagnosed with probable early Lewy's Dementia. It took me a SOLID YEAR to get things in place. If you don't want to be POA and there is not a lot of money to protect I would settle for medical POA ONLY. And then, if he needs a POA to manage Medicare let the state take on guardianship and general POA and do all that paperwork and misery.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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slkcma Aug 2, 2025
Thanks so much!
There is a health poa form on our state's website. So I may print that out and do that one. I'd think they'd have a notary there? (The director gave me a big packet of info that I forgot in dad's room so will bring that home today and it may answer a lot of my questions).
I'll leave the financial one for now until my sister and sister-in-law are here for a couple days next week. Maybe set up an appt with a lawyer while they can go.
Thank you, very helpful!
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Thank you all!
Family is telling me I need to get it so no one will have a problem with it that I know of. I'm the only one living by dad so it's on me but my sister-in-law does research and my sister makes calls for me.
I never wanted to have it but I'm seeing where I'm going to need to to make sure he ends up in long term care and he is just so close to not being able to sign even a scribble. I imagine the hassle it would be having the state take guardianship at this point. I just have so much to figure out.
It's a lot between figuring this all out for him, trying to take care of his dog which I finally brought her here but my cats are hating it and the dog has been alone with dad in his house for like 12 years so she's having trouble adjusting. She is 15 and has her own medical issues. I may need to euthanize-just don't want to make that decision until I get my head on straight especially since the facility director said the dog can visit as long as I have shot records.
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Beethoven13 Aug 3, 2025
Can you board the dog at a good pet boarding place for two weeks while you find your footing? Or a reliable pet sitter at dad’s house for 2 weeks? Use dad’s money to pay. Just throwing up options so it might be less stressful for you. Can you pay with dad’s money, someone reliable and compassionate to care for the dog at dad’s house, walks daily, feeds and water, and get in the mail and clean out the fridge and keep the house tidy for the next month while you figure things out? A paid helper for you.
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Medical POA is limited to just being able to talk to Drs and staff and carrying out Dads wishes. It gives you no authority to help with finances or sign paperwork for him. You will need Durable Power of Attorney too.

You can print the paperwork needed from your State Website. You will need a witness and a notary. A Social Worker at the rehab should be able to help you. A lawyer would be good. Sign nothing for him now. If he is competent to sign let him do it. For you not to be held responsible, you need a POA behind your signature.

Any lawyer can do a DPOA and Medical.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Use an elder care specialist lawyer. If you're not sure where to find one, call the American Bar Association for information. I do not recommend printing out a form for a POA. Because it may not be enforceable in your state or county. That's why you need an Elder Care lawyer for this. If you have family, are they part of your father's care team? Is it possible someone from your family will take offense at your having POA? Also, this is not for everyone. It can be a royal P.I.A. Sharing the burden works for some people.
The Devil is in the details. Keep all the paperwork in one place. Make sure you understand what you are signing. Make a to-do list so you don't miss appointments or filings or other legal obligations. Same for medical-keep track of appointments, and medications.
Keep coming here. Lots of experienced people with very good advice.
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Reply to Ariadnee
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