Leadership in the elderly care home sector.

cupied researchers over the past 60 years and, not surprisingly, has attracted considerable sponsorship from organisations wanting to identify what differentiates particularly effective leaders from the rest. Literature pertaining to leadership in the elderly care home sector is lacking. Care homes currently exist in an environment characterised by turbulence, increasingly complex problems, and growing internal and external competition. New leadership models are emerging that are less concerned with understanding how best to manage order and predictability, and more with predicting who can best ensure survival in this constantly changing environment. This paper analyses and evaluates research into different leadership styles and suggests future leadership trends. Research into related areas are also considered and used to develop an understanding of the effects of leadership styles on healthcare workers. First, considered is research on leadership styles and how they affect nurses’ perception of quality of care, job satisfaction, work attitudes, absenteeism, behaviour, interaction, flexibility and effectiveness. Second, is workplace-based research and the value of emotional support. This paper shows different types of leadership in action and builds an argument for the need for leadership in the elderly care home sector.