Area seniors are coping with cold temperatures.

Byline: Kevin T. Baldwin

Some seniors are experiencing varying degrees of hardship while trying to deal with cold temperatures and rising oil prices which have occurred over the last two months, according to the directors of the councils on aging (COA) in several communities.

"Rising fuel costs present a problem for seniors here in Northboro," said Kelly Burke, director of the Senior Center and COA. "I spoke with Arlene Marshall, outreach coordinator, about this issue. Arlene processes the fuel applications here. She anticipates problems in the coming months because folks have already used the funds that they have received from the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC). Joe Kennedy's program stopped taking applications (at the end of January)."

Alma DeManche, director of Westboro's Senior Center and COA, said she has heard about some seniors, who in an effort to make it through the cold winter months, may be putting their health at risk.

"What I have heard a lot of is (how seniors) keep the temperature down very low, or what I think is too low for an elderly person, so as to not burn as much oil," DeManche said. "This can cause problems when it is very cold, especially with some medications."

DeManche said rising fuel costs can cause hardships to people living on fixed incomes.

"I've heard of some (people) paying $3.50 a gallon and that was in December," DeManche said. "This certainly is a serious issue and I encourage seniors to apply for fuel assistance, but some just won't. Pride and all that." Kathi Bailey, director of the Senior Citizen Center in Clinton said the rising cost of oil has seriously affected senior citizens she deals with on a continuing basis.

Seniors, according to Bailey, have had to make harsh choices to pay for fuel, in some cases opting to shell out money for home heating oil as opposed to certain important medications.

DeManche said she has not heard of anyone in Westboro who has foregone medications for fuel.

"But that doesn't mean there isn't anyone who has," DeManche said. "Several people I know of shopped around for an oil dealer with lower prices and did...