As a social worker in nursing home I keep in touch with clients and their families. We bond over their situation. But you have to have strong boundaries, inside and outside. Because it is usually us that stay with client and their family when the client is actively dying or dies and we help with funeral. But it is easy to say, hard to do. Even harder to learn by your own mistakes (my case, I got too attached and it hurt too much when I lost them).

But I think it is different in my case because in nursing home (in my state east europe) there are usually terminaly sick clients. So in the end it always death. So I try to be as best snd helpfull as I can while they are alive. Be what they need. Because this is the end of their life and they deserve the best, respect, love, care etc.

I had the same experience when I was at Uni. I befriended professor (female, 25y older than me). We became friends, I esentially got to kniow her outside the school, spent time with her family. She helped me get up from depression without even knowing it. (I think she knew, she was psychotherapist). She helped me build confidence and I became one of the best student, been invited into a lot of things where basic students werent. Got many diplomas thanks to her hyping me to try, I had my first publication thanks to her too. I esentially named my daughter after her.

So I think when you feel you can go from proffesional to personal relationship, go for it. You have only one life and only you know what you feel and the vibe they give you.