Our in-home help got my dad in her cell phone plan. Should she have contacted me first?

...I contacted our attorney
I gave up POA to my willing and stable minded husband. Too much "junk" from the past I can't seem to kick in the ***. My health is declining, along with my fathers. I've realized I am not the best human to care for my father even though I love him and have desperately for years
wanted a "even kinda normal" relationship.  He's pushed me away my whole 55 yrs of life. I just can't take the pushing away anymore..it's hurts. My husband will look after his best interest and can be straight up with him..dad idolizes him.
😢

You may be. The POA not only gives you certain rights to do things on his behalf, it gives you responsibility. And that may be or get ugly. It did for me. Read yours and know what it says. I took control of the money bc I know Dad wasn't thinking about, nor did he understand, Medicaid and the 5-year look back period. I'm sorry for him that it works the way it does, but I took a stand bc I believed it was in his best interests.

I agree with you all, thank you.

Since he had a stroke, I'm dealing with a broken brain...right ?

If I would take away money handling etc it would not go over well at all. I dont even want to help with anything anymore. He does what he wants when he wants. Always has, always will!
I got this homemaker set up so he is looked after so I dont have to.  We're country neighbors so I can keep close check from a distance. 

Yes he wanted to come home from AL
He uses his bank debit card a lot. Doesn't write many checks. Cashes his SS check, deposits some but keeps the rest in cash. Currently under penalty for Medicaid, waiting for a hearing. I'm pretty sure this will get ugly...husband and I just sent off 275 pages of bank statements from 2009-2014 to Medicaid.

Everyone is correct, this "friend" is scamming him.

ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PHONE PLAN: A precursor to knowing all about him, who he calls, when, how long the call is. Some phones have GPS tracking, finding him, STALKING HIM!
A precursor to limiting contact with his people, isolating him.
Fire her as caregiver. Cancel the plan, it is intrusive, a tool for conning your mark.
If there is NO money coming her way, she can remain friends with Dad, his/her choice.

Is it time to enforce the POA to help Dad? Yes, try to get his cooperation by not dissing the scammer, creating a rift in your relationship. An APS report can be filed, but you are wise, already aware. Oops, when you visited last week, was it you who sat on the phone, broke it? And you already replaced it with a simple to use throw-away phone. Did the phone become separated from it's battery-and Dad doesn't know how to use it? What is wrong with this phone? I don't know-just give it back. In pieces. This is the scenario when I was coached by my doctor a long time ago, he said: "Sometimes nice is just not nice" So, don't be nice.
There is a benefit to using a land line-calling 911, they know where you are if you cannot speak. At this point, your Dad's safety pre-empts the phone budget. imo.

Oh, did I say:  The person with the phone plan gets the bills, with itemized calls on his phone listed.  None of her business! That's why.  Need I say more?

You're not "only the POA", you are the POA who is authorized and responsible for looking out for his finances in his best interests. So, go take that authority and use it. What is going on does not sound like it is financially in his best interest. Thus, you need to get in and take charge to protect him from this lady.

Can you take away his checkbook, access to money?

I guess I would go down there send be the bad guy, saying " I'm in charge of the money here. Don't scam ny dad anymore or you can get out".

Of course, you have to mean it. If I recall, dad wanted to come home from AL, right?

I realize I'm "only" the POA
Is it too much to ask or let me know he switched phones ? Esp since I've been his POA for 10 yrs? And I'm the one doing all the dirty work, paper
work etc etc etc
Barb...her boss said he can buy what he wants...the woman did clean 1 day last week out of the 3 that she's there
From what I understand it's her plan and she added him but who knows
Yes, she's an employee from "Help at Home" services...my dad is also worried about her $700 vet bill...he paid $100 for her Bose radio she offered him even though my husband bought him an elaborate  satellite radio system

If I understand correctly, this woman is a friend but also is an employee? And she's able to use his smartphone on a plan that includes him and her?

Bad move. I see red flags too. You can advise the agency this is unacceptable, or call the plan provider and advise that she had no authority to enter into this arrangement, especially if a contract was required for the service. Ask them to remove her as an authorized user.

Bella; Given your last posting about this woman taking him to the store to buy stuff; what was the result of that call to the agency?

I see lots of red flags here!

You may be his POA, but he is still free to make decisions until he is declared legally incompetent. Maybe you should see a lawyer.