Can I file bankruptcy for my mom without a POA?

Pam's right. If your mom has dementia and a couple of Doctors are willing to put this down on paper, then you should try to get guardianship. Are that any other siblings out there that might object. If so, you should try to get everyone on the same page first and then approach the Doctors and then JAG.

Ask them about Guardianship. That's your only option at this point.

correction: "personnel", not "personne"

CM, I think she's in the military. Base legal office is probably the base JAG (Judge Advocate General) which provides among other things advice to military personne.

I'm not quite sure what a 'base legal office' is, but they were quite right. Your mother cannot create a Power of Attorney if she is not of sound mind, capable of understanding exactly what she is doing.

Could you ask the same people you consulted about the POA what you should now do to assist your mother with her financial difficulties?

No.