TY - JOUR T1 - Informal care and health care use of older adults. JF - J Health Econ Y1 - 2004 A1 - Courtney Harold Van Houtven A1 - Edward C Norton KW - Aged KW - Female KW - Health Care Surveys KW - health policy KW - Health Services for the Aged KW - Home Care Services KW - Home Nursing KW - Homes for the Aged KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Nursing homes KW - United States AB -

Informal care by adult children is a common form of long-term care for older adults and can reduce medical expenditures if it substitutes for formal care. We address how informal care by all children affects formal care, which is critically important given demographic trends and the many policies proposed to promote informal care. We examine the 1998 Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) and 1995 Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest-Old Panel Survey (AHEAD) using two-part utilization models. Instrumental variables (IV) estimation controls for the simultaneity of informal and formal care. Informal care reduces home health care use and delays nursing home entry.

PB - 23 VL - 23 IS - 6 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15556241?dopt=Abstract U4 - Caregiving/Health Care Utilization/Elderly ER -