The test this page passes or fails: if your parent is hospitalized tonight, can you put your hands on each key document in ten minutes? A locator sheet is the piece of paper that makes the answer yes — for you, and for whichever sibling is on shift.
| Document | What it does (plain words) | Who ends up needing it |
|---|---|---|
| Financial power of attorney | Lets a named agent handle money, bills, accounts | Banks, insurers, utility companies |
| Health care POA / health care proxy | Names who makes medical decisions if your parent cannot | Hospitals, doctors — at admission and at any capacity question |
| Advance directive / living will | Records treatment wishes in advance | Hospitals, hospice; often requested with the proxy |
| DNR / POLST (if one exists) | Specific resuscitation orders signed by a clinician | EMS and hospitals — usually wanted as the signed original |
| Insurance policies & Medicare/plan cards | Coverage details | Admissions, claims, pharmacy issues |
| Will — its location only | You need to know where it is, not its contents | The executor, eventually |
Requirements, names and witnessing rules for these documents differ by state — the attorney, legal aid service or online service that produced each document is the right source for questions about validity. This page is about locating and organizing, which is caregiving, not law.
| Column | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Document | Health care POA |
| Original location — be specific | Blue fire safe, bedroom closet, second shelf — not "the safe" |
| Who holds copies | Sister (scan), Dr. Lee's office, hospital file from 2025 |
| Date / version | Signed 3/2024 — replaces 2016 version |
| Prepared by | Attorney M. Ortiz — phone on file |
"Be specific" is the whole trick. "In his papers" is a treasure hunt; "blue fire safe, closet, second shelf" is thirty seconds, even for someone who has never opened it.
For hospitals, a clear copy of a health care proxy is usually accepted at intake; a DNR/POLST is typically wanted as the signed original. Keep at least one copy somewhere you can reach at 2am, and keep the original location written down rather than assumed. When in doubt, ask the drafting attorney — that is exactly what they are for.