Three City of Houston centers to open Sunday and Monday for people needing refuge from heat

The City of Houston will open two multi-service centers and a community center on Sunday, September 3, and Monday, September 4, so people without air conditioning can take refuge from the heat during the weekend and Labor Day holiday.

Houston libraries and multi-service centers will function as cooling centers during normal business hours on weekdays and Saturdays. The Central Library downtown is unavailable as a cooling center.

The following locations will open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, and Monday, September 4: 

• Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery Rd. 
• Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 4410 Reed Rd.
• Moody Community Center, 3725 Fulton St.

Community centers operated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department will open to the public after the conclusion of daily programming for enrolled participants.

The YMCA of Greater Houston will open its locations over the weekend for people needing to seek relief.

The National Weather Service predicts heat index values will reach as high as 113 through Monday.

The City of Houston activates its Public Health Heat Emergency Plan when the Houston area begins to experience excessive heat. It activates the plan when a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning is expected to last two or more consecutive days.

People without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride. Transportation is only to and from the cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.

The Houston Health Department recommends the precautions below to avoid heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

• Drink more water. Drink lots of liquids even before getting thirsty, but avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar because these can result in the loss of body fluid.
• Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or evening when temperatures are not as high. Outdoor workers should drink plenty of water or electrolyte replacement beverages and take frequent breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned facility. People unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment need to start slowly and gradually increase heat exposure over several weeks.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.
• Do not leave infants, children, senior citizens, or pets unattended in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are cracked open. Check to make sure everyone is out of the car and don’t overlook children who may have fallen asleep.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to help prevent sunburn as well as heat-related illness. Apply sunscreen, which protects from the sun’s harmful rays and reduces the risk of sunburn.
• Seek accommodations in air-conditioned facilities during the heat of the day if the house is not air-conditioned: a relative’s home, multi-service centers, malls, movie theaters, libraries, etc.
• Take frequent cool baths or showers if your home is not air-conditioned.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include weakness, dizziness, excessive sweating, cool or moist skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, and a fast and weak pulse. People experiencing these symptoms should lower their body temperature by getting to a cooler place, drinking water, taking a cool shower or bath and resting.

A throbbing headache, red, hot, and dry skin (no longer sweating), extremely high body temperature (above 103°), nausea or vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness and a rapid, strong pulse are signs of heat stroke. If these symptoms occur, call 9-1-1 immediately and try to lower the person’s body temperature until help arrives.

People may seek air-conditioning in city multi-service centers, libraries and recreation centers, even when the Public Health Heat Emergency Plan is not activated. For more information or to find the nearest cooling center location or an air-conditioned city facility, people can call 3-1-1.

AAA to launch annual Medicare enrollment campaign

To schedule an appointment with AAA during Medicare open enrollment, email aging@houstontx.gov or call 832-393-4301.

The Houston Health Department’s Harris County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is gearing up to launch its annual campaign to help older adults apply for Medicare during the open enrollment season and provide their clients with insight into various benefits, such as the Medicare Savings Program – Medicaid.

Open enrollment begins on October 15, and AAA will send their benefits counselors into various senior centers, multi-service centers, churches and other locations to speak with potential eligible seniors about the insurance company and help with their applications. It’s a resource provided to older Houstonians at no extra cost to them. They visited 25 different locations last year and hope to match that number again.

"We’ll speak to Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, or their families, and we’ll conduct plan comparison, review their current coverage and discuss new changes coming up,” said Rose Ortega, a Senior Counselor for AAA. “Costs of care is also a big topic we tackle with them. We make sure our counselors are trained to prepare the members for enrollment.”

AAA’s benefits counselors are also trained to provide application aid for Medicare members who are interested in renewing their Medicaid benefits, as continuous coverage ended in March. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency that allowed Texas to provide continuous Medicaid coverage throughout three years of the pandemic without needing members to sign up yearly. This year’s enrollment period is important for members to remember they must apply for Medicaid again, if they received a notice to do so, to avoid a lapse in coverage.

"The member’s income and resources are analyzed to determine Medicaid eligibility,” Ortega said. “And income in this case includes social security, pensions, or self-employment. And Medicaid looks at the value of the resources, like their savings accounts or life insurance policies. Some people qualify for their income level and resources, but if [their] life insurance is high, they may be denied.”

Benefits counselors will first screen their guests, determining if they will be eligible for Medicare before breaking down coverage plans and options. And with their consent, AAA will help members submit their applications for Medicare and Medicaid. People can plan a visit to any of the upcoming community outreach events dedicated to Medicare enrollment, dial the agency’s call center, or plan a virtual appointment to speak with a counselor.

Ortega says AAA works hard to make sure bilingual benefits counselors are on hand to offer help, and they bring translated information to community outreach events that align with their audience. AAA is also planning to expand its translated flyers to include Chinese, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Cantonese languages.

AAA is an HHD service that promotes the well-being and overall care of aging adults by providing access to a large network of supportive services for eligible persons.

“We want people to prepare themselves when they come to see us,” Ortega said. “Bring your benefits packets, questions, and if need be, bring a list of medications so we can do an accurate plan comparison. We provide unbiased insurance consultation but will let you know what should work best for you. We want to do what we can to help older adults navigate their coverage.”

Medicaid recipients can also be on the lookout for their Texas Health and Human Services packet to renew or manage their coverage before enrollment ends. Please visit www.yourtexasbenefits.com to update your information. Don’t wait – renew and update!

It's back-to-school season! Are your child's immunizations up to date?

When it comes to back-to-school prep, you have the agenda for clothes shopping and a list of required school supplies ready to make your child(ren)’s first day at school seamless.

What about your health checklist?

There are necessary check-ups your child needs before heading back. Vaccines, check-ups, dental exams. They’re appointments we should all be making regularly but especially before school.

Research shows strong correlations between healthy students and academic achievements. Healthy students are better learners. Vaccinations protect students from diseases and keep them healthy. It all ties together.

At the Houston Health Department’s health centers, parents can take their children for their back-to-school immunizations as well as other health and social well-being needs including dental.

Be the reason your student starts off the school year with an A in Health. Get them immunized with the necessary immunizations today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a quick chart to reference for what immunizations are required based on the age of the child: 0-6 years and 7-18 years.

HHD out and about: Highlighting HHD's community efforts

First annual One Safe Houston Community Day

The Houston Health Department joined the "fight" alongside Mayor Sylvester Turner on the first annual One Safe Houston Community Day on August 11, 2023, at the Tidwell Community Center. Watch YouTube video.

See to Succeed with the Houston Rockets Day

HHD's See to Succeed Program joined up with the Houston Rockets at the Sunnyside Multi-Service Center to host a back-to-school bash for the record books!