If a family member has health proxy over another member but doesn’t live with the family member and the family member who doesn’t live with elderly person suspects neglect due to the fact that the elderly person is bed bound, diabetic and an amputee and is a heavy smoker what could be done?
We need a full set of details to answer questions here.
Meanwhile, a health proxy does very little in fact. They can answer medical questions and make medical decisions about heroic measures according to an advance directive if the senior is hospitalized.
Your powers as a Health Care Proxy generally are the same powers anyone suspecting abuse has. That would be to call Adult Protective Services if in the United States, or the equivalent guardian of seniors at risk in any other country. The details and proof would be given to APS who could do a wellness check.
In an emergency wellness checks can be done by police or sheriff in many jurisdictions.
Good luck.
There is no neglect by the healthcare proxy if the person is still competent. This person can make decisions for themselves. If the healthcare proxy feels they need to intervene, they need to get a doctor to declare the principle incompetent. In the meantime, APS can be called to evaluate the situation.
It is very possible that the sick elder is refusing help. This is a very common scenario. The proxy (MPoA) needs to activate the authority which usually requires 1 official medical diagnosis of sufficient impairment. If the proxy can't get the elder to the doctor and can't get a house call, or if the elder is simply not cooperating -- then a dilemma occurs.
I'd first talk to the proxy to ask if they need help with the elder before judging the situation with no facts in hand.