Effects of long-term care setting on spousal health outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To provide empirical evidence on the effects of home and community-based services (HCBS) (vs nursing home) use on spousal health.

Data sources

Merged data from the 1996 to 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Area Health Resource File (AHRF).

Study design

We assess the impact of HCBS use on spousal health. We use an instrumental variable (IV) approach to account for the potential endogeneity of the choice of care setting and reverse causality. Our instrument is the supply of skilled nursing home beds per 1000 people older than 65 years.

Data extraction methods

Our sample includes spouses of HCBS or nursing home users, resulting in 8608 observations.

Principal findings

We find that HCBS use leads to harmful effects on spousal physical

SUBMITTER: Dong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6338294 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature