Elderly Barriers

Giving the help needed for the elderly population as human services providers is not always an easy task. Many barriers exist that can ultimately derail not only the amount of time it takes for the elderly to receive help, but often the elderly do not know how to obtain the help in the first place. Some barriers include ageism which prohibits the essential care needed, and problems that arise when younger therapists counsel elderly clients.

Older Clients and Younger Therapists

Beneath the surface of counseling and psychotherapy for the elderly population lie the vast emotions that come along with an elderly client having a younger counselor or therapist. With such a vast age difference, each generation is forced to examine his or her past, present, and future. "Younger therapists are inevitably dealing with clients' life challenges off-time to their own development, a factor that can lead them to idealize, deny, or otherwise distort their empathy for the real challenges described by the client," (Atkinson, 2004, pp. 246-247). The younger therapist/counselor also may be willing to put in the extra work on the basis that the older clients needs such as medical, and mental too difficult. Elderly clients receiving services may also ask themselves how a younger professional may be able to not only relate, but age in general may be the biggest barrier.

In order for a counselor/therapist to overcome the age issue present, both parties need to keep an open mind to each other's age. With significant amount of experience working with the elderly population, a clinician may be able to adapt a more fulfilling relationship amongst his or her older clients. If the elderly client see's that the counselor/therapist is showing empathy rather than sympathy, the relation may prove to be much more positive for all involved. "We have to figure out a way to compensate for our different life stages through empathy, collaboration, and mutual exploration," (Atkinson, 2004, p. 247).

Ageism

Another barrier the elderly population may have to face when receiving assistance from human services is ageism. Many elderly people are judged based on his or her age and what qualities supposedly come along with it. "For administrators confronted with budgetary restraints, it has too often been the older population that has been cast aside, on the basis that they are too old to benefit from services," (Persky, 2004, p. 1). Sadly it is effects of not only the mental health community, but that of the media as well that portrays the elderly population as somewhat helpless.

Multiple practical solutions exist that will help reduce the stigma of ageism within the human services community. One such suggestion is "training sessions conducted by staffs of aging and mental health agencies so each can have a better understanding