Countertransference Issues in Social Work With the Aged

Despite their growing number, their increased risk of mental disorders and social dysfunction, the elderly continue to be underserved by mental health workers. Two of the major obstacles to appropriate treatment and services for the elderly and their farnilies are countertransference and death anxiety. This article examines these issues through the use of case examples. It suggests that mental and social service agencies need to concern themselves with and provide opportunity for supervisors to review practitioners' work in order to identify countertransference issues and ageist stereotyping.