<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Pier C. Borra and Brad
C. Roush and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for Arbor Health Care Company for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Executed this 12TH day of February, 1997.

                                               /S/ CARL R. ADKINS, M.D.
                                              ---------------------------
                                               CARL R. ADKINS, MD






<PAGE>   2



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Pier C. Borra and Brad
C. Roush and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for Arbor Health Care Company for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Executed this 12TH day of February, 1997.

                                                     /S/ HOWARD E. COX
                                                    --------------------------
                                                    HOWARD E. COX, JR.




<PAGE>   3



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Pier C. Borra and Brad
C. Roush and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for Arbor Health Care Company for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Executed this 24TH day of February, 1997.

                                                    /S/ THOMAS A. JAMES
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   THOMAS  A. JAMES




<PAGE>   4



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Pier C. Borra and Brad
C. Roush and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for Arbor Health Care Company for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Executed this 15TH day of February, 1997.

                                                /S/ FREDRICK C. POWELL
                                               --------------------------------
                                               FREDRICK C. POWELL

                                       



<PAGE>   5



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Pier C. Borra and Brad
C. Roush and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for Arbor Health Care Company for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Executed this 10TH day of February, 1997.

                                              /S/ BRUCE G. THOMPSON
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             BRUCE G. THOMPSON






<PAGE>   6



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Pier C. Borra and Brad
C. Roush and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for Arbor Health Care Company for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Executed this 6TH day of February, 1997.

                                              /S/ JAMES F. WHITE, JR.
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             JAMES F. WHITE, JR.