Alternsförderliche Führung in der Langzeitpflege

Abstract

Introduction: Demographic shifts in the population are leading to a reduction in the proportion of people of working age. In order to ensure the sustainable financing of social systems, it is crucial to integrate people of working age into the labor market as fully as possible. Efficient resource management with regard to the care workers already employed in the area of long-term care is essential. In this context, leadership plays a particularly important role. Age-promoting leadership implies the further development and individual application of leadership tools and consideration of the needs of this group of employees and can contribute to retaining caregivers in the company in the long term and enabling a healthy working environment even in old age.
Method: The aim of this master's thesis is to explain age-promoting leadership as an aspect of demographic management. Following a systematic literature review, qualitative guided interviews were conducted with managers from the long-term care setting at the House of Mercy. The data was analyzed using Mayring's qualitative content analysis. 
Results: This master's thesis concludes that managers' many years of professional experience are of crucial importance for age-promoting leadership. Communication skills and the adaptation of communication strategies are emphasized as key leadership skills. The study also shows that specific knowledge for designing healthpromoting working conditions is of central importance. Another key finding is that organizational structures are perceived as rigid. There is a recognizable lack of innovative thinking and flexibility on the part of company management.
Discussion and conclusion: In summary, the study shows that age-promoting leadership should be viewed as a holistic concept that encompasses both individual and organizational levels. Successful implementation requires the integration of further training measures, flexible working models, health-promoting working conditions and an open corporate culture that recognizes and promotes the value of diversity and lifelong learning. 

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Maria Krischkowsky (Supervisor) & Silvia Neumann-Ponesch (Supervisor)