Senior management characteristics that influence care quality in aged care homes: a global scoping review

By 2050 the number of older persons is expected to double with figures reaching nearly 2.1 billion worldwide. This projection will challenge every nation’s ability to provide the leadership required to reform and develop systems of care for the aged. The purpose of this review is to explore senior management characteristics that impact the performance of healthcare delivery systems in aged care homes. A systematic approach was used to search, extract and synthesise the literature. Both thematic analyses and critical appraisal were undertaken to identify prominent themes and evaluate the quality of each article. Of the 14 articles included in this review, 12 (85%) were from the United States and none from low and middle income countries. Findings from this review indicate that senior management characteristics influence the quality of care in aged care homes. There is some limited evidence of a link between senior management leadership styles (and behaviours) and the quality of health care delivery in aged care homes. Further research to determine the prevailing healthcare challenges concerning care quality in aged care homes is recommended to contribute to the evidence-based literature in the context of the Australian aged care sector