Do social services have a right to force someone into a nursing home?

Do you think the paperwork is for a reverse mortgage? That's the only way I can see someone with few financial resources being able to stay in their home (until his money eventually runs out).

If your father does not assign your sister (or you or someone he trusts) as his durable PoA, then eventually the county (through social services) may need to step in as guardian once he is no longer competent to run his affairs, since the law does not allow just anyone to manage another's sensitive and critical affairs like financial and medical. Banks and investment entities certainly do not. Just because your sister is a close relative or lives with him does not grant her this authority. PoA paperwork needs to be created by your father while he has all his mental faculties (preferably by an elder law attorney). A 2-hr consult would be an excellent investment before he signs anything further.

Your sister apparently does not understand how taxing and expensive caring for another person in their home can become (even if it isn't currently). We all decline as we age (sometimes faster and more sudden than anticipated) and there's no getting away from this fact. In many instances people get better care in facilities, especially if they have more advanced or complex medical problems. Keeping a LO in their home can imprison them, especially if it is difficult to transfer them from bed to wheelchair, from wheelchair to car, etc. If she already needs help getting him to appointments she will find out there is no one organization or charity that will do this for free unless he qualifies for some program (and depending on where he lives, there may not be many or any).

Your dad and sister are presumably competent adults. He needs to read the paperwork and ask a lot of questions — that's his absolute responsibility. In a court of law, "ignorance" is not accepted as a defense. If he loses his house and savings because he willingly signed paperwork that he didn't understand, he may not have anyplace to live. He may be causing himself to disqualify for Medicaid, which would be his only last hope of financial help. Please read this to your sister and father. They need to stop signing papers that they don't understand. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Still solid wisdom.

Where did you get the idea facilities drug people and cause them to die?!!!

He is being cared for by my sister, in a safe environment (in his home). He does not have dementia, just some physical issues getting around. My sister is afraid if she asks for help, they'll force him into a home, where he would just be drugged up and die. If they put him in a home, he will die, I have no doubt. I live out of state and my husband has physical/mental problems. Between that and covid, I have not been able to get up there and help the way I would like to. I feel like I'm failing both of them.

If she's been signing things she doesn't understand that has to stop! Any reputable organization should have no problem giving her enough copies of any paperwork that she can forward them to you to get your input as well as giving her time to consult with a lawyer or financial planner if necessary.

Is your sister only asking about transportation for your dad? In my area, Council on Aging will provide rides to the doctor. Check to see if this is available in your area.

Best wishes to you and your family.

Tell your sister to not accept ANY "services" for your father that claim to be state-sponsored or try to get anything for free.
Once a person accepts help from anything to do with the state, they are in charge and will be the one making the decisions.
I've worked for many seniors and their families privately and saw first-hand what happens. They could be living a pretty decent life with their family, then the family starts getting offers from all kinds of organizations claiming all kinds of free resources available to help out with their elderly "loved one". Except all this help and programs are never free. They get their money when a house has to be sold because they put the senior into a nursing home for some minor reason.
If your sister starts accepting these services and signs anything she and your father will have social workers and the state up both their a$$es all the time. And yes they can put your father in a nursing home for any reason they say. Then his house and everything he has gets handed over.
Tell your sister to sign nothing.

Yes, they can. But first APS would ask for emergency guardianship through the courts. They would do this if they determine that dad is not in a safe situation and needs more help than is being provided. If dad is considered incapacitated.