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Should I, and can I, add another person to a medical POA if my mom isn’t able to make that decision? I currently share medical POA of my mom with my two sisters who live out of state and I’d like to add my husband. My mom is in an AL facility with dementia. I travel every couple of months for 3-4 days out in state and my husband is home. I worry that if something would happen to Mom no one with MPOA is physically here. All of us are in phone contact, but does some one need to physically be here to make decisions? I also worry if something should happen to me (car accident, illness, etc) what would happen to my mom. My husband has agreed to care for her, but without MPOA he can’t legally make any decisions. Any advice would be wonderful. Thanks!!

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From a legal perspective, the POA itself would identify if there is a power for the current POAs to appoint yet another POA. If it is silent, then the power doesn't exist and a new POA would need to be executed (if capacity exists to do so).

I am a long-distance caregiver (I fly in once a month) and am both medical and financial POA - I've not had an issue executing needed POA duties over the phone, email, fax, etc. And I've certainly let the hospital know who could visit/be there for discharge, while giving my consent over the phone (and medical history, and discussing followup with the NP/MD - all over the phone. ) Same thing happened with my father after a heart attack - as next of kin and the POA, I was able to make decisions and ask them to allow his partner to be in the room, etc., and make arrangements as to what was wanted while I was in the air but unreachable. You do not have to be physically present to act - it's easier, yes, but not prohibited!
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I don't believe that you can "assign" MPOA; only mom can do that.

As a family, we all three siblings had medical POA; only my brother had financial. When he traveled, we simply kept in touch via phone. And amazing, in the 4 years that mom was in the facility, nothing ever happened while he was away. I would make sure that sisters and you are in contact with husband while you travel.
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If the doctor already knows that you and your sisters share the MPOA, then things should be able to be tended to over the phone. It was in my case.
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Thanks so much for the advice. I thought I could and her doctor is aware of my MPOA.
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