(1 minute read)
Social distancing because of COVID-19 has been especially tough in the assisted living and retirement communities. Residents have been staying in their rooms, all day, every day. Meals have been delivered to their door. If the dining room is open, residents can’t sit together so they sit eating alone at a table. Weeks have gone by without having the freedom to come and go. No group activities or outings. And worst of all, no visitors from the outside, unless they come to a window and wave.
In April, a marketing firm called Luckie reached out to a chain of assisted living communities with an idea for helping their residents stay connected and positive while they were confined to their rooms. The result was a radio station that would be run by and for assisted living residents called Radio Recliner.
The original plan in April was to have Radio Recliner be a temporary means of connecting residents for the next 30 days, the expected length of the quarantine. But as the quarantine has continued well past 30 days and with no end in sight, so has Radio Recliner.
The DJs have fun names like the Karaoke Cowboy, M&M, Miss Fancy Pants, Jersey Jack, Silver Fox, Birdman, Sunshine, Charming Charlie, Chickity Chick, Ginger Bee, and Sassy Sara. The DJs record their shows by phone from the comfort of their rooms, some actually recording their shows from a recliner. A producer adds the music later. The DJs create their own playlists, picking their favorite bands and songs from a lifetime of music. One DJ only plays Elvis. Another just plays Country. Some like to mix it up, playing a little bit of everything from the Big Band sounds of the 40s, 50s doo-wop, the British Invasion in the 60s, Rock, and Pop. They share memories and life experiences, along with requests from listeners to dedicate a song or to pass along a message to someone special. They also share how they are coping with isolation and loss while being confined in their room.
You can find Radio Recliner at https://radiorecliner.com/.
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