re: is a power of attorney for aging parents a good idea?

Yes

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Also if they have paid off their residence, get it transferred into your name.

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it is, but this isnt an option, since there are 4 of us who will inherit it equally

but no one has ever answered my question, about how to shop for a good lawyer?

i assume they have different types of lawyers but i have no clue which is correct to search for

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If they have a bank account full of money and they die, if you don't have POA...good luck emptying the account.

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POA ends at death
you need to have you name on the account before the parent dies.

It may be a good idea depending on who gets the named. The are horror stories of one of the children getting the POA from an aging parent and spending all the money and not on the parent.
My mother had split the POA where I had authority over her Brokerage account and my sister had authority over her bank accounts,
Have a will, repeat have a will.
Remember the POA expires at death, My sister was on the bank accounts(joint account) so we had access the bank account
My mother passed away at the end of January she had prepaid for her cremation so we knew what she wanted, She also had a will and we are in the middle of the succession now.
I suggest you and other siblings sit down with your Parent(s) and talk about your parents final wishes and where the money is, what insurance policies etc. These talks can be difficult but are even more difficult when time becomes a factor.
Good Luck

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I suggest you and other siblings sit down with your Parent(s) and talk about your parents final wishes and where the money is, what insurance policies etc. These talks can be difficult but are even more difficult when time becomes a factor.

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this has already been done a couple years ago, before dads last stroke, his mind wasnt the same since, but he is still rational most times.

he has a will, and his finances are settled, as well as his wishes for inheritance after her death and both their funeral arrangement wishes.

i already handle all their finances and banking but i have not been given POA

the only thing i recently realized we needed was the POA. when i asked him, he said it was given to mom, since she inherits everything.

i can easily see her not being able to function or think correctly for months after he dies, so thats why im trying to prepare for all the "what if s"

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Also if they have paid off their residence, get it transferred into your name.

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That can have some nasty tax ramifications down the road.

I didn’t see it mentioned, but in addition to all of the above, find all homeowners insurance policies, flood, etc. If in LA. the last thing you need is an expired policy during hurricane season.

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POA ends at death
you need to have you name on the account before the parent dies.

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In Virginia when my parents died, they had made their account labeled,
his name, her name or my name. So the transfer to my solo account was simple.

Get it yesterday and have someone in the families name on all the bills. Once the parents die PoA dies as well. Moves to the Executor if so named by the parents.