practical living
music-making can reduce depression
and anxiety among older adults
and offer opportunities for social
interaction. But you’re working to find
out whether listening to music can
do the same. Why did you decide to
focus on radio?
Wireless connections
Tuning in to radio’s impact
on older adult wellbeing.
Amanda Krause interviewed
by Dallas Bastian
F
or some, listening to the radio is
a way to kill time while driving or
catch up on the day’s news, but for
older adults the desire to tune in might
have deeper implications.
In partnership with the Community
Broadcasting Foundation, Dr Amanda
Krause from the University of Melbourne
is exploring the radio listening practices
of older adults and how these might
relate to their sense of wellbeing.
18 agedcareinsite.com.au
Early findings from her interviews with
Melbourne residents aged 65 years and
over indicate that for some people the
radio offers companionship – both by
listening to music programs as well as to
radio presenters.
“Some people spoke not only about
their enjoyment from listening to the
radio, but about consciously modifying
their listening in an effort to improve
their mood,” Krause said.
In the next phase, Krause will speak
with radio personnel about their
decisions on programming and how
they might be able to positively influence
listeners’ wellbeing.
“The project is very exciting because
it has real power to make changes in the
community,” she said.
Aged Care Insite spoke with Krause
about her decision to explore the impact
of radio on wellbeing and whether the
presenter or the music played makes a
difference.
ACI : You’ve said previously that
research shows participating in
AK: There are two reasons. One is to
home in on listening in general. Much
of the research has been done on
music‑making, which is fabulous, but it
does require a lot of materials – people
to lead singing groups, for example,
or instruments in order to have a
band – whereas listening can be done
at any time, in any place, alone or with
other people.
So I’m really interested in thinking
about listening, because of our ways
of accessing the music through
different technologies. And the radio
is one of those, and it’s a longstanding
technology.
Another nice thing about the radio
is that, in rural and remote regions, it
is often the only working technology.
So we can access a lot of different
people and consider their experiences
with the radio.
Early findings from your interviews
with senior Melbourne residents show
that people define their interactions
or relationship with the radio in
different ways. What were some of
the ways interviewees spoke about
listening to the radio?
Sometimes people talk about it
as something that’s just on in the
background. For example, a lot of people
wake up with the radio and have it on
as they’re getting ready for their day. Or
perhaps just playing in the background as
they go about their day and their work.
Other people talk about the radio
providing companionship. They talk
about not only having a relationship
listening to the same presenters, but
often a favourite program they have
developed a relationship with and
welcome into their homes.
But they also have a relationship
with the music as well. It’s not just the
presenters or talkback radio. They often
have the music on in the background to
give them companionship.
In terms of their relationship with
the radio presenters, is it specifically
talkback radio where that connection
is being formed, where there’s at least