Like Azalysa said its old but i couldnt put off from responding....i work in a nursing home as a certified nursing assistant...and your right ...some of them dont get to see family or have company...and i try so hard to keep visiting those residents as well as the ones with family because a nursing home is kinda depressing in general ...You know though what i think about keeping a professional distance though??? I think of it this way ..my profession is too take care of them...mentally and physically....and if you see differences i see one resident who has a professional distance cna and they dont take about the residents feelings...there is no humor no hugs no laughter...its almost mechanical...and the resident is not happy...if i come in there i will be the first to admit i have said i love you to a resident...and guess what...they say it right back..and sometimes they say it first....they brighten up when they see me...and it feels so good...the idea about this post is not to make myself look good lol ...but it is to show you there can be no such thing as professional distance (except when it comes to touching and physical contact and certain "relationships") when you work with humans..it is our nature to nurture....not to expose that tender vunerable soul and not say a kind word ....not to make that blessed human feel anything but independent and worthless without a huge hug and supportive words....i work with them the way i would want to be treated later on in my life...and so what if i dont have family visit me...as long as my cnas love me and take care of me and spend some time with me....thats all i ask ...and when they look you in your eyes and say please hug me..i love you...your my little girl...HOW can you stay distant with that??
good luck. sweety and remember if your having this problem your probably doing your job right...lol and i know thats not in the job description either....
love, Inny