Home care agencies struggle with high gas prices

CONCORD, N.H.—High gas prices are making it harder for New Hampshire nurses, therapists and aides to serve chronically ill elderly and disabled patients in their homes.

A recent study by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice found that home care staff traveled more than 10.6 million miles to make 1.4 million home visits in 2006. Susan Young, director of the Home Care Association of New Hampshire says there often is no other way to reach those patients, particularly in rural areas, but the rising cost of gasoline makes doing so a challenge.

Linda Hotchkiss of the Rochester District Visiting Nurses Association says the high cost also makes it harder to hire new caregivers, who are more likely to take jobs that don't involve driving.

The association is urging Congress to restore a bonus Medicare payment that used to support rural homebound patients with complex medical problems.