POA when there are no kin, what options are there?

NosrednaNod, best thing is to have your neighbor make an appointment with an Elder Law Attorney to discuss this situation, to see what are the options.

since you're not family - please don't try to get POA (financial or health).
POA is a serious document. no one should be trusted to be POA, apart from a family member (yes a family member can also behave badly, but still...).

since the person has no family - contact APS.
there are official people who can be hired as POA as well, when there's no family. let APS deal with it.

my point is, please OP don't try to get POA. i know you say health, but i wouldn't be surprised if you want to try to get financial, too. please don't try to get either.

Do not take it on yourself. You can advise your friend but unless there is a cognitive issue you neighbor can make decisions even if they are bad. Once in a hospital for an injury, the hospital will notify the court system if a discharge is unsafe. Probate court will appoint someone. It is usually a lawyer. Also if you are the same age, it becomes more difficult. An appointee will be younger than you

An attorney is your best bet.

Many people who HAVE families have opted to use their atty as their POA. My son is an attorney and he has POA for a few clients. He hasn't had to enact any yet, so it remains to be seen how he does it.

Thank you all for the comments!

You are all thinking the way I am thinking. I most certainly do not want to get involved in an official capacity. It just won’t be a practical long term solution for either of us.

You have given me some great tips to explore.

The neighbor needs to speak with an attorney and if he/ she is a senior citizen, their counsel should best come from an Elder Law attorney to help them navigate the ' systems' and, to be sure they receive all options. You should consider making a clean and definitive separation from the ' helper/ caregiver' role you are in . Refer the neighbor to consult also with their PCP and, seek professional guidance re both their " level of care needs" and resources available.

If the neighbor refuses and, you feel there are safety issues in the home, tell the neighbor the date you are leaving and will no longer be available; then leave. You can also always call APS ( adult protective services) and report ( even anonymously) the situation in the home; then leave it. As hard as this may sound, it is best for both your neighbor and you for their care, well being ( physical and emotional), as well as your well being and separation of accountability. Do not continue to be a crutch as it easily prevents the neighbor( patient) from taking appropriate steps to obtain realistic services and, confront/ accept the needs.

Best regards..

I don’t have a solution. I just want to say that you’re a good person for helping your neighbor while you can, and finding solutions for when you need to leave. It is very rare to find neighbors who are caring and want to get involved without some sort of agenda to take that person’s assets.

My neighbors are not understanding of my curmudgeonly elderly mother. I have another elderly neighbor who often has to carry his own groceries to his house and do other things without assistance from others.

It takes a village when it comes to caring for children and the elderly. Sadly our society has seen a breakdown in community and people tend to keep to themselves and not want to get involved, nor do they have sympathy. I wish you all the best.

Public Guardian:
https://gac.illinois.gov/osg/guardianship-fact-sheet.html - Elder Law Attorney through Legal Aid (see below)

Legal Aid - Search for "legal aid oak park illinois"
Oak Park, IL

Speaking about family, mine are mostly older than myself and limit POA for me. I had no children, and only one of my siblings has two surviving members. My second oldest brother and my sister, both out-of-state, and her daughter, are on my medical POA. When my siblings do not survive me, my niece is my only natural family left. My nephew has problems and cannot be my agent. However, I was told that my brother's spouse's children will help me, related by marriage, since my brother did not father any children of his own.

NosrednaNod: Perhaps your neighbor should retain an elder law attorney.