State Power Of Attorney My Parents Set Up A Power Of Attorney For Them In NY State, But They Did Not Get It Notarized. Now What?

My parents set up a power of attorney for them in NY state, but they did not get it notarized. Now What? - state power of attorney

In 1997, my parents (living in upstate New York) as the power of lawyers who have not been notarized. Now my father can not make decisions. The lawyer said that my mother can not act on his behalf (as his attorney). It will go to court to get it. Is that true?