The coldest time of the year in South Texas is right around the corner, with overnight lows in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit predicted during the region’s mild winter season from late December through mid-February and occasional cold fronts bringing brief dips below freezing.
Due to their reduced temperature sensitivity, poor circulation and chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes that are worsened by wintry conditions, the elderly are among the most vulnerable to chilly weather.
Cold weather risks include hypothermia, frostbite and heart strain.
“Seniors may not always know that they’re getting too cold, especially if they stay indoors without adequate heating,” says Chris Casso, MD, FAAFP, DABOM, a family medicine physician who serves as Market Physician Leader with South Texas Health System (STHS) Clinics. “Even a space that feels cozy to a younger adult may be dangerously chilly for an elderly person.”
To help keep elderly Rio Grande Valley residents safe and warm during the upcoming winter months, STHS and Prominence Health are partnering to launch a special blanket and heater drive for underprivileged seniors across the four-county region.
From now through Wednesday, December 31, 2025, STHS and Prominence Health invite community members to drop off new blankets and portable space heaters in the special boxes located near the main entrances at any of the following STHS facilities:
· South Texas Health System McAllen, 301 W. Expressway 83, McAllen, TX 78503
· South Texas Health System Heart, 1900 South D St., McAllen, TX 78503
· South Texas Health System Edinburg, 1102 W. Trenton Rd., Edinburg, TX 78539
· South Texas Health System Children’s, 1102 W. Trenton Rd., Edinburg, TX 78539
STHS and Prominence Health will work closely with hospital case managers and local non-profit organizations to distribute the collected items to underprivileged elderly residents across the four-county region.
“For seniors on fixed incomes, rising energy costs can make it difficult to stay warm. Something as simple as a donated blanket or space heater can make all the difference, especially for those most vulnerable,” says Tom Castañeda, System Director of Marketing & Public Relations, South Texas Health System. “So, here’s your chance to spread a little warmth to elderly residents across the Rio Grande Valley this winter. Together, we can make a big difference in the lives of our senior community.”
For more information, please contact Veronica Galligan at 956-821-9569 or by email at Veronica.Galligan@uhsinc.com
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About Prominence Health
Prominence Health began in 1993 as a health maintenance organization (HMO) and became of a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 2014. They provide coverage to more than 60,000 fully insured, self-funded and Medicare Advantage members throughout Nevada and parts of Texas. Prominence operates seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in California, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Washington D.C., which are managed care systems that benefit communities by providing coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. For more information about Prominence Health, visit ProminenceHealthPlan.com or ProminenceMedicare.com.
