Living to long can be a burden

Some people who are very elderly are subject to depression if they have outlived all of their friends and family and seldom have visitors in long term care facilities. They don't get invited out, they don't get to go out into nature to see beautiful things, and they don't even get to eat Chinese take out or pizza. They feel useless, and feel as though they are not needed by anyone.

I worked in a nursing home for less than 2 years, and I knew a woman there who was 99 years old, smart as a whip, and who read the newspaper every day.

But you also have to realize that some people are never happy, no matter how long or short their lives, because they only think about themselves. It's a never ending inward spiral of thinking negative thoughts.

There is very little that can be done, except perhaps to bring in a puppy or baby animal of some sort...or to donate videos of puppies and kittens.

People who are extremely depressed will also benefit from a donation of an ipod with recordings of music that was popular when they were in their late teens or early twenties. In her case, she would probably like music from the 1940's, like the Andrews sisters and the big bands.