Joseph M. Casciani, PhD
Ghosting is something most of us have experienced at one time or another—a sudden silence from someone we were connecting with. This may take place in a friendship, budding relationship, or even a professional setting. Without warning, communication stops, leaving us with unanswered questions and a lingering sense of confusion. While ghosting is common, we rarely consider how it can seep into other areas of our lives. This is especially so in caregiving and relationship-driven roles, where communication and consistency are essential. In today’s busy world, we’re inundated with calls, messages, and notifications that demand our attention. While it’s essential to filter out the noise, it may be just as important to respond thoughtfully, as some connections may carry real value.
In this article, we’ll explore how ghosting habits may unintentionally affect caregiving and professional relationships. We’ll also discuss how caregivers can foster mindful, empathetic interactions with those they support.
Impacts on Caregiving Responsibilities
In caregiving roles, whether in senior living communities, home health, long term care, or personal care settings, consistent communication and follow-through are essential. Ghosting, though more common in casual relationships, can inadvertently show up in caregiving roles. This can occur when habits of avoiding difficult conversations or neglecting follow-up become normalized. Even subtle actions—like canceling appointments, neglecting to follow up after showing interest, overlooking promises, or avoiding difficult conversations—can unintentionally impact those in our care or with whom we work.
How Ghosting Habits can Impact Caregiving and Professional Relationships in Senior Care
- Avoidance of Difficult Conversations: In professional settings, avoiding challenging discussions—whether with residents, colleagues, or supervisors—can lead to misunderstandings and unresolved issues. For caregivers, this might mean hesitating to discuss changes in care needs, boundary-setting, or workload adjustments. This lack of open communication can leave colleagues feeling unsupported. It can also result in families feeling left out of key decisions, and residents uncertain about their care.
- Emotional Detachment: Ghosting behaviors often involve withdrawing emotionally. In caregiving, this can affect professional relationships by limiting collaboration, reducing team empathy, and preventing genuine connection with residents. When caregivers become emotionally disengaged, they may overlook subtle signs from residents or colleagues that indicate a need for assistance, reassurance, or understanding.
- Inconsistency and Unreliability: Unreliable follow-through in caregiving can lead to inconsistency in resident care, but it also affects team dynamics. Missing scheduled activities, failing to complete shared responsibilities, or neglecting to communicate changes can create friction with colleagues and anxiety among residents. Both teams and residents depend on dependable interactions for stability and trust.
- Missed Opportunities for Connection: Ghosting behaviors can also prevent caregivers from building deeper professional relationships. By avoiding opportunities to collaborate, connect, or learn from one another, caregivers miss valuable chances to strengthen their team and foster meaningful connections with residents. This ultimately impacts the quality of care provided and the fulfillment caregivers gain from their work.
For some, ghosting is easily written off as “just the way things are.” However, for others, repeated ghosting can be demoralizing and a fast track to burnout. Those affected may internalize the lack of response. They may interpret it as a personal failing and wondering if their work or contributions are not valuable. In caregiving, where empathy and resilience are crucial, repeated experiences of feeling disregarded or “ghosted” can take a significant emotional toll on caregivers. It may lead them to question their purpose and effectiveness.
If one person has been ghosted by you, chances are that others have been ghosted by you as well. And if you have been ghosted by someone, chances are that others have been ghosted by that same person also. Patterns of non-response or avoidance can impact multiple people, subtly affecting professional reputations and the quality of connections over time.
A Call to Mindful Communication in Caregiving
In caregiving, small actions often have a significant impact, not only on residents but also on the professional relationships within the caregiving team. Ghosting might stem from a natural tendency to avoid discomfort or difficult conversations. Its effects on both caregiving and professional relationships can be profound. Taking a mindful approach to communication—being present, following through, and prioritizing openness—can make a tremendous difference in building trust and creating a supportive environment for colleagues, residents, and families alike.
Speaking from the perspective of a psychologist, this isn’t meant to preach or lecture. Rather, it’s meant to raise the bar on our own performance. Responsive and respectful interactions help build a foundation of trust, both with those we serve and in our professional relationships. Whether it’s a brief update, a respectful decline, or a simple explanation when plans change, taking the time to respond fosters transparency, trust, and connection.
These practices also enhance our own psychological well-being, whether we work in healthcare, sales, or other relationship-driven fields. Prioritizing consistent, intentional communication not only strengthens our sense of purpose but also reinforces our integrity. In service industries, these efforts create a ripple effect of trust and respect, enriching the quality of service we provide and deepening the satisfaction we derive from our work.
Further Reading
The Adecco Group, The Companies and Employees Ghosting Each Other. Read more here
Benjamin Laker, How to Recognize Workplace Ghosting and What to do About It? Forbes. Read more here
Dr. Joe Casciani is the founder of the Living to 100 Club, a platform dedicated to promoting healthy and purposeful aging. With decades of experience as a psychologist specializing in geropsychological care, Joe offers valuable insights and practical strategies for successful aging. He is the creator of Better, Longer & Happier (BLH), a new series of modules designed to inspire, educate, and empower caregivers and senior living communities to foster a positive outlook and resilience in older adults. Visits our new online store for Better, Longer & Happier at Living to 100 Solutions.
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