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It’s a legal document that would reveal personal information of your mother’s. The facility does not have the legal right to show you the document.

Your mother while competent assigned your sister power of attorney to act for her.

Your sister, as your mother’s agent, has the responsibility to keep your mother’s affairs private.

If you go to the Resources link at the top of the page and then to caregiving topics and then to the P’s you will find articles and comments that might be helpful to understanding. The heading looks like this once you get to the P’s.

Power of Attorney (POA) 
A legal document that assigns authority to an agent to act on your behalf in specific matters outlined by the document.
Helpful Answer (3)
Reply to 97yroldmom
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As POA, it is your sister's duty to keep mom's info confidential if she feels that is best.
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Reply to JustAnon
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The staff would not be allowed to do that without your sister's permission.
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Reply to MG8522
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I find this interesting legally. Clearly it is possible for someone to state quite simply that they have a POA, and then no-one is allowed to see it? POAs vary quite considerably – eg I had one for my 20s daughter while she was in Europe, and it certainly said absolutely nothing about a care home.

It sounds as though it would take a court application to get a right to check whether a POA actually exists and precisely what powers it gives. If the refusal to show it is unreasonable, perhaps the court would help by awarding costs to the applicant.
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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An attorney can get it for you….that’s what I had to do.
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Reply to Jada824
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The facility has to ensure that the POA is on file for your sister to act as POA.

You can discuss this with an attorney and they can act as your representative. Of course this is all paid for by you.

The facility also has a responsibility only to your mother and POA and must maintain a level of privacy that is under the state law.

Do you and your sister have a strained relationship that you can not directly ask her your questions? Do you suspect abuse of POA duties? If you do, you will need proof and that will allow the attorney to determine is legal actions should happen.
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Reply to AMZebbC
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You may be able to ask that a POA is on file but they can't show you tthe copy they have on file.

I actually think that immediate family should be shown proof that another family member holds POA. Anyone can say they are one. My brothers knew I had POA because Mom told them.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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