The impact of crime on home care services

A telephone survey of 49 Veterans Administration Home Care Programs found 32 programs reporting dangerous areas in their territories. Twelve excluded patients based on safety of area of residence. Programs in the eastern United States and in cities with higher rates of crime were more likely to have paired visits, escorted visits, or to exclude patients. Programs providing paired or escorted visits were less likely to exclude patients, suggesting that such policies maximize access to home care.