RECENTLY I wrote about reading out loud to an elderly or vulnerable relative can help to lift their mood and prompt lively conversations.

I suggested one source of material was local newspapers like The Westmorland Gazette and that nostalgia articles could help to rekindle fond memories.

However, don’t always assume every elderly person wants to dwell on the past!

To some, evoking the past might just serve as a reminder of some of the things they can no longer do.

Elderly people often like to keep up with the news. But modern television news bulletins, with their noisy background music playing over the headlines and their habit of telling you what you are going to hear, then telling you again in more detail, can be confusing and off-putting to those who prefer the more formal and measured approach adopted in years gone by.

A quieter option is to find some interesting news articles in national or local newspapers or websites and read them out loud.

Newspaper features are also a good source of material. If gardening is an interest, seek out lively gardening articles; the same applies to topics like food and drink and sport. There are also hundreds of magazines covering many hobbies and interests.

And don’t forget the value of reading out passages from literature. Elderly people might well enjoy hearing well-loved poems they learned years ago, such as Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening by Robert Frost or The Glory of The Garden by Rudyard Kipling.

Well-known passages from the Bible or the words of popular hymns might also resonate - so much so you might find your loved-one joining in as you read familiar lines.