Taking care of a sick or injured child receiving medical treatment can create a lot of worry and fear. Whatever the reason is that brought you to our doorstep – we know it’s a challenging time for you and your family.
Staying at Ronald McDonald House
Who can stay at Ronald McDonald House?
Ronald McDonald House Charities Newfoundland and Labrador helps keep families with a sick or injured child close to each other and the care and resources they need, when they need it most. We offer safe, low-cost accommodations in a welcoming atmosphere for families who have children receiving medical attention in St. John’s. RMHC NL is conveniently located within a 5 minute walk of the Janeway Children’s Hospital.
During your stay, we want our home to feel as much like your home as possible, but with the added benefit of a community – made up of staff, volunteers and other families and children going through a similar time.
So, as you walk the halls, pace the floors and come and go – take comfort in knowing the coffee is fresh, the home-cooked meals and cookies are made especially for you and there is always someone close by ready to hear about your day.
While staying at Ronald McDonald House. We truly hope you feel comfortable, safe and supported.
Who can stay with us?
A. Family members whose child/patient is receiving treatment (regardless of medical condition) at the children’s hospital or another medical facility in the St. John’s area.
B. The child/family must live at least 80 kilometres away from Ronald McDonald House.
C. All individuals staying at RMHC must be actively involved in the child’s hospital routine unless they are other children in the family.
Waitlist
Families are added to the wait list the day they require a room. We are happy to accept post-dated referrals and applications. However, we receive referrals daily and can never really know what each day will bring. Families are placed in priority sequence first by inpatient, then by outpatient care, then by clinic visit. We then prioritize by distance, with families living furthest away being the highest priority. The priority list may change daily as new families are referred to Ronald McDonald House.
RMHC NL “Staying With Us” Brochure
If you are requesting accommodations – a medical referral must be completed.
Frequently Asked Questions?
What can you expect at RMHC NL?
- 24-7 Operational Family Services Front desk
- Communal Living Environment
- Family Support Programs
- A Fully equipped kitchen with plenty of space for preparing meals
- 15 Bedrooms, each with 2 queen size beds, private washrooms, and fully stocked with linens and towels
- Laundry Facilities
- Resource Center
- Children play areas
- Family Time Movie Theatre
- Home Office
- Access to Wireless Internet
- Wheelchair accessible
- Family Time Park
- Non-Smoking/Scent Free
- Room Fee $15/night/family. If the bill in unmanageable, guests will be provided with a complimentary stay.
Each family will have access to one parking spot while staying at Ronald McDonald House, free of charge.
A full image gallery of Ronald McDonald House Newfoundland and Labrador can be found on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/rmhnl
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.519475871400416.139282.165581890123151&type=3
More Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
A. Family members whose child/patient (under the age of 18) is receiving treatment at the Janeway or another medical facility in the St. John’s area.
B. The child/family must live at least 80 kilometers away from the House. Note: All people staying at RMHC must be actively involved in their child’s hospital routine.
Guests require a referral from their Social Worker or other medical professional to verify the application requirements. With a medical referral, families residing outside St, John’s NL who have children, under the age of eighteen (18), receiving treatment from any of St. John’s major health care centres are eligible to stay at Ronald McDonald House Newfoundland and Labrador. It is only $15 per night, per family to stay at the House and no family is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. In crisis situations, hospital personnel can be called upon to assist with the application process by calling the House for immediate availability. Please contact our Family and Volunteer Services Manager at 733-2242.
‘Home-away-from-home’ is not just a catch phrase but an accurate description of just how warm and inviting the House can be. It has earned that reputation due to its comfortable and attractive surroundings. Each guest bedroom provides accommodation for up to four people. Rooms are tastefully furnished, each with its own private bathroom. In-room amenities include: -two queen size beds – televisions – with Cable TV and a Blu-ray DVD player – telephones – small refrigerators There is ample space throughout the House for families to feel at home in, with a large fully-equipped kitchen, dining, laundry and living areas for shared use. Our modern kitchen has everything needed for families to prepare nutritious meals for themselves and their family. Coffee, tea, milk, and a variety of non-perishable and perishable foods are normally available. Computers with internet access are on hand to help guests and/or their child stay in touch with family and friends during their stay. The House is accessible to those using wheelchairs or with mobility challenges. Playrooms, a library, and an outdoor yard complete with play equipment, and beautiful landscaping are a few more of the amenities that can be expected at the House. One free parking spot is available on site to our guests.
A Welcoming Arrival
Ronald McDonald House Charities Newfoundland and Labrador seeks to provide sick children and their families with a comfortable home where they can stay in an atmosphere of caring, compassion and support. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by a staff member who will meet with you about your stay, review our communal living guidelines and provide you with a full tour of our House. Our family guest rooms are similar to a large hotel room in design and are equipped with two queen-sized. All rooms also include a private and full EnSite bathroom, a mini-fridge (for water, breast milk and medication only). Common spaces include living room, playroom, home office, Library, TV room. Teen Room, communal kitchen, family laundry and outside playground.
The Comforts of Home
Ronald McDonald House House helps to provide relief to families going through very difficult times by providing all the comforts of home while taking care of the “little things”, so that parents can spend more time caring for the most important thing… their sick child.
Family and Friends
We know how important family and friend support is during a stressful time. All guest families can have visitors while keeping the comfort and safety of all guests and their children in mind. Visiting hours are between 9 a.m. and 8:30 pm, and visitors will need to sign in at reception and verify that they have not been exposed to any infectious diseases. They will be required to remain in the main floor common areas including the living room, dining room, kitchen and patio.
Working Together
One of our top priorities is to ensure the comfort and safety of all guests staying at Ronald McDonald House. You will receive our Policies and Procedures and House Rules upon arrival.
The first priority is to ensure the comfort and safety of all guests staying in the House. It is asked that everyone does their part to respect their fellow guests as well the volunteers and staff by following the House Policies and Procedures. Kitchen and Food Services: A fully equipped kitchen is available where families can choose to prepare meals. Each family is provided with their own cupboard and refrigerator storage container to keep food they have brought from home or purchased during their stay. Many staples such as spices, sugar, etc. are kept on hand in the House for guest use and there is also a cupboard of non-perishable items like soups, pasta and sauces, etc. that guest families can help themselves to. Coffee, tea, milk, and baked goods are provided by generous suppliers and volunteers. As a special treat, home cooked meals are also provided from time to time thanks to volunteer groups that come into the House to prepare dinner. This popular program, called Home for Dinner Program, is offered up to three times each week, but is not on a guaranteed schedule. The dinners are announced on our kitchen calendar with the date, time, menu and name of volunteer group responsible for Home for Dinner meal. This program is greatly appreciated by our guest families who look forward to coming home to a prepared meal after a long day at the hospital. Telephones: Telephones are available in all the suites with access to free local calling. Linens: Fresh linen and towels are provided by volunteers and staff for your convenience at arrival but guests are asked to launder their linens if you need to during their stay. Play Areas, Library and Gathering Places: We have a playroom and a children’s library inside the house, as well as an outside play area and a special game room for teens. The whole family can, also, enjoy movie nights in our TV room. We also have a quiet room where our parents can find a few moments of peace. Computers: There are three computers with high-speed internet access available for guests to use. This is a popular way for families and their sick kids to stay in touch with family and friends. There is also free wireless internet access throughout the House. Office Hours: The Reception area is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Guests are welcome to drop by the Reception or the Family and Volunteer Services Manager’s office with their questions, concerns or requests and the caring staff and/or volunteers will do their best to assist them.
The check-in hours are normally between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Exceptional circumstances can be discussed with the Family and Volunteer Services Manager to see if alternate arrangements can be made. The check-in process for first time families takes about forty minutes and includes reviewing the House policies and procedures as well as a tour of the facility.
Check-out time is 10:00 a.m. We will store your belongings until you are ready to depart. In order to serve as many families as possible, it is important to know the number of rooms that will be available so guests are asked to tell staff when they will be leaving as soon as they know. You will be given a check out form when you check in during your orientation to the House. A Check list is included on this form as a step by step guide to follow before you depart.
Ronald McDonald House is located at 150 Clinch Crescent which is only a five-minute walk to the Janeway Children’s Hospital. This level of convenience enables families to spend more time together while their child heals.
Visitation of family and friends is important to the guests of Ronald McDonald House. There are however a few policies to adhere to for the comfort and safety of all guests and their children. Please limit the number of family and friends at one time. Visiting hours are between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Visitors need to sign in at reception and verify that they have not been exposed to any infectious diseases. They will be required to remain in the main floor common areas including the living room, dining room, kitchen and patio. To respect the privacy of all families staying at the House, it is respectfully requested that visitors do not tour the House or the family’s bedroom.
All parking spaces at Ronald McDonald House are designated for house guests only, free of charge. Parking is limited to one car per family.
Just like in your own home, there are some policies and house rules that ensure the comfort and safety of all guests during their stay. These will be reviewed in their entirety with you upon check-in. These are to name a few:
• As long as you qualify for medical purposes, there will not be a limit placed on your stay.
• One room is allotted per family (unless needed on a short term extenuating circumstances) At least one of the adults using the room must be a parent or primary care-giver of the patient. These rooms are able to accommodate up to four people.
• The room rental fee is $15 per night. If the bill in unmanageable, guests will be provided with a complimentary stay.
• All guests must be registered to your room. Additional guests can be considered but all must go through the registration process, and not go over the maximum capacity.
• Guests wishing to go home and leave their room unoccupied can do so only with advance approval and for no more than two nights. If you choose to leave for a night or two it is important to get approval from the Family and Volunteer Services Manager before doing so. Please note that depending on the wait list, your request may not be approved. Spouses who are not continuously residing in the House are requested to stop in at the reception office upon their arrival to review the infection control policy and to sign-in on the visitor sheet.
• Children under the age of 19 cannot be left at Ronald McDonald House without an adult. Children under the age of 16 must be directly supervised at all times.
• Guest families are asked to clean up after themselves (and their children) as well as help maintain the common areas while in the House. This helps to keep the costs of operating the House low in order to maintain affordability.
• Cleaning supplies are available to all guests- so guests can tidy up during their stay.
• There is no food allowed in the guest bedrooms. Mini fridges are provided in your room for the purpose of storing water, breast milk, and/or medicine. Guests are encouraged to eat and drink in the kitchen and dining room areas.
• Quiet hours are observed in bedroom areas between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and in the common areas between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Ronald McDonald House is a no-smoking facility and as such there is no smoking allowed anywhere inside the House. It is respectfully requested that there be compliance with this important policy.
• There are no weapons, alcohol, or restricted substances permitted in Ronald McDonald House or on the premises at any time.
• Sorry, no pets either unless it is a trained service animal.
• Guest families should check in between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
• Check-out time should be between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
• Parking is provided within Ronald McDonald House gated parking lot with one space per family – no exceptions.
• During the winter months, families and visitors are asked to remove their outdoor shoes or boots while in the House. Socks, slippers, or indoor shoes are the only footwear permitted.
• This is a communal living environment and guests are asked to respect the privacy of other families and not disclose confidential information.
• Ronald McDonald House does not condone any forms of harassment or discrimination.
With everyone doing their part, Ronald McDonald House will be a safe and comfortable accommodations for families with a sick or injured child. It is recognized however that Ronald McDonald House may not meet the needs and expectations of every family. Should a family be unable to comply with Ronald McDonald House policies and procedures as indicated, they may need to find alternate accommodations.
Policy Examples (some policies are listed below but are not limited to the following)
Ronald McDonald House is a communal living environment and does not operate the same as a hotel.
- RMHC NL can request that a family vacate the premises for any reason at its own discretion
- Any families negatively impacting the communal environment within Ronald McDonald House, disrespect of staff/volunteers or other families, inappropriate behavior, actions and/or disruptions that threaten security and/or well being of individuals within the house, smoking, alcohol, cannabis, or illegal drug use on the premises, misuse of property, domestic arguments, theft, recurring nuisance, blatant disregard of Ronald McDonald House rules, and/or acts of violence will be asked to leave;
- Families are responsible for ensuring their children are supervised at all times; childcare is not provided at Ronald McDonald House.
- No alcohol, Cannabis, illegal drugs, weapons, smoking or pets are allowed inside Ronald McDonald House.
- Guests who show symptoms of a contagious illness (Cough, nasal congestion, sore throat) will be asked to find alternate accommodations in an effort to protect our young, immune compromised house guests.
- Families are responsible for their own cooking, cleaning, laundry and cleaning up after their own family in communal areas.
- Drinks, food and snacks are not permitted in the guest rooms
Failure to abide by guest policies and procedures can affect your eligibility to return to RMHC NL for future stays.
Should a family be unable to comply with Ronald McDonald House policies and procedures as indicated, they may need to find alternate accommodations.
While each Ronald McDonald House shares a common mission of keeping families close, each house is independently operated by a charitable organization. While Ronald McDonald House receives financial and in-kind support from its founding and forever corporate partner McDonald’s, it is ultimately a community house. Ronald McDonald House Charities Newfoundland and Labrador relies entirely on the support from individual donors, businesses, foundations and annual fundraising activities to ensure that its programs and services are offered to families each year.
Your donation will enable Ronald McDonald House to provide a caring and supportive environment for families who have a sick or injured child. Whether they have a two-pound newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a child in need or surgery, an injured teenage under pediatric care, or a child undergoing treatment for cancer, Ronald McDonald House is there for them. Families can stay at Ronald McDonald House for only $15 per family per night, while the actual cost to host a family is approximately $165.00.
