RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Will You Still Want Me Tomorrow?
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 663
OP 716
DO 10.3368/jhr.53.3.0213-5454R1
VO 53
IS 3
A1 Bridget Hiedemann
A1 Michelle Sovinsky
A1 Steven Stern
YR 2018
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/53/3/663.abstract
AB With data from the Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Survey, we estimate dynamic models of three dimensions of families’ eldercare arrangements: the use of each potential care arrangement, namely care provided by a spouse, care provided by an adult child, formal home healthcare, 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.