SALEM — Local seniors seem to be taking the area's early heat wave in stride.

“Seniors in New England are really hardy,” said Sara Landry, director of the senior facility and elderly affairs for the town of Pelham. “It really takes a lot to get them to reach out for help.”

Prolonged heat and humidity can take a toll on anyone, but it's especially difficult for people who may have respiratory or cardiac issues. The senior center serves as a cooling station to provide an oasis during heat waves.

“We haven't really had a need for it yet,” Landry said. “It's really early in the season.”

The building serves as a cooling center at the discretion of the town manager. Cooling center services are generally needed only when temperatures stay at 85 degrees or above with high humidity for a week or more, Landry said.

Once it's decided that a cooling center is needed, the senior center extends its hours so people have a cool, air-conditioned place to socialize, watch television, and relax away from the heat. Plenty of water is also available.

Demand for cooling centers has lessened as more people air condition their own homes. No one took advantage of the service last year, Landry said. The service wasn't called for during the current stretch of hot weather.

“Luckily the heat is expected to break over the weekend,” Landry said.

The Salem Senior Center also serves as a cooling center when town and fire department officials decide the service is needed.

“It's a cool climate people can come to and get a reprieve from the heat,” said Patti Drelick, executive director of the Ingram Senior Center in Salem.

She hasn't noticed a large increase in visitors during the recent blast of hot weather. In some classes attendance may have been lower as people opted not to go out at all, Drelick said.

Some of the programs at the center allow staff to keep in touch with seniors in their homes.

The Salem Senior Center delivers about 117 meals to seniors in Salem and Windham every weekday. The drivers form a relationship with their clients and notice physical or mental changes due to the heat or other conditions.

“They all have to make sure they see the client every day. It's so important,” said April Coggon, Rockingham Nutrition and Meals on Wheels Program site manager at the Ingram Senor Center.

If a problem is detected, Coggon may alert the emergency contact provided by the client.

In the “good morning” program registered clients call in before 10 a.m. each day. If the call doesn't arrive, a staff member calls the client. If there's no response emergency contacts are notified.

“It's a safety assurance program for anyone living alone,” Drelick said.

Whatever the weather, both senior centers seemed to be the hot spot in town. The Ingram Senior Center was buzzing with card games, Wii bowling, exercise classes, and food.

“It's a great place to come,” said Evelyn Sarcione.

jhanson@newstote.com