Yes, it is valid strategy. Not only elderly do it. I have seen women who cared for children to do it too. Otherwise there is too much silence and nothing interesting going on whole day, it helps to keep sanity.
Morning tv programs and soap operas are designed especially for people like that.
If you have a family and a small house having the TV on can provide some much needed privacy that you do not have in a dead silent house. A lot of it may be habit from having kids, something a good number of younger journalists can't relate to.
Morning tv programs and soap operas are designed especially for people like that.