Would my personal creditors be able to touch their assets?

I have recently went through several years of cancer surgery and treatment, through which time I was unable to work. I still owe about $8,000 worth of medical debt. I finally was able to go to work and had worked full time 1 month when my aging parents’ urgent medical needs required me to quit and take on the role of their full time primary care giver. That was 18 months ago. I am still care giving and unable to work even part time, and my personal medical bills are beginning to go to collections. They would like me have POA, but I am concerned that my debt would affect their very humble finances.