Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
  • Alerts
  • Free Issue
  • Special Issue
  • Other Publications
    • UWP

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Human Resources
  • Other Publications
    • UWP
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Human Resources

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
  • Alerts
  • Free Issue
  • Special Issue
  • Follow uwp on Twitter
  • Follow JHR on Bluesky
Research ArticleArticle

Will You Still Want Me Tomorrow? The Dynamics of Families’ Long-Term Care Arrangements

Bridget Hiedemann, Michelle Sovinsky and Steven Stern
Published online before print April 19, 2017, 0213-5454R1; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.53.3.0213-5454R1
Bridget Hiedemann
Bridget Hiedemann is a professor of Economics at Seattle University. Michelle Sovinsky is a professor of Economics at University of Mannheim and CEPR. Steven Stern is a professor of Economics at Stony Brook University.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michelle Sovinsky
Bridget Hiedemann is a professor of Economics at Seattle University. Michelle Sovinsky is a professor of Economics at University of Mannheim and CEPR. Steven Stern is a professor of Economics at Stony Brook University.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Steven Stern
Bridget Hiedemann is a professor of Economics at Seattle University. Michelle Sovinsky is a professor of Economics at University of Mannheim and CEPR. Steven Stern is a professor of Economics at Stony Brook University.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: [email protected]
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

With data from the Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Survey, we estimate dynamic models of three dimensions of families’ elder-care arrangements: the use of each potential care arrangement, namely care provided by a spouse, care provided by an adult child, formal home health care, and/or institutional care; the selection of the primary care arrangement; and hours in each care arrangement. Our results indicate that both observed heterogeneity and positive true state dependence contribute to the persistence of care arrangements. Evidence of positive true state dependence for most or all modes of care in all models suggests that inertia generally dominates caregiver burnout. Our results indicate that formal care decisions depend on the cost and quality of care. As a result of inertia, the effectiveness of long-term care policy depends on timing: initial caregiving decisions are more sensitive than subsequent decisions to economic incentives.

JEL Classification
  • C51
  • C61
  • J14
Keywords
  • Dynamic Models
  • Long-Term Care
  • Home Health Care
  • Informal Care

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.
Next
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Human Resources.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Will You Still Want Me Tomorrow? The Dynamics of Families’ Long-Term Care Arrangements
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Human Resources
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Human Resources web site.
Citation Tools
Will You Still Want Me Tomorrow? The Dynamics of Families’ Long-Term Care Arrangements
Bridget Hiedemann, Michelle Sovinsky, Steven Stern
Journal of Human Resources Apr 2017, 0213-5454R1; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.53.3.0213-5454R1

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Will You Still Want Me Tomorrow? The Dynamics of Families’ Long-Term Care Arrangements
Bridget Hiedemann, Michelle Sovinsky, Steven Stern
Journal of Human Resources Apr 2017, 0213-5454R1; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.53.3.0213-5454R1
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Where Have All My Siblings Gone?
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • In-State College Enrollment and Later Life Location Decisions
  • The Journal of Human Resources Referees Volume 55
  • The Economic Burden of Crime
Show more Article

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • C51
  • C61
  • J14
  • Dynamic Models
  • Long-Term Care
  • Home Health Care
  • Informal Care
UW Press logo

© 2025 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Powered by HighWire