GuestInformation/FrequentlyAskedQuestions

Websiteinformationforprospectiveguests

BecomingaGuestatCincinnati’sRonaldMcDonaldHouse

Cincinnati’sRonaldMcDonaldHouseoffersfamiliesfacingamedicalcrisisaplacetorejuvenateandre-groupawayfromthehospital.Ourgoalistoprovideasafehavenofcomfortandsupportsothatfamiliesareabletodevote100%oftheirenergiestothechildren’srecovery.

BelowisalistofquestionscommonlyaskedbyfamiliesrequestingaroomatCincinnati’sRonaldMcDonaldHouse.Wehope

ouranswersarehelpfultoyou.

WhatmakesafamilyeligibleforaroomatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

Anyfamilywhosechildisreceivingmedicaltreatment(inpatientoroutpatient)atCincinnatiChildren'sHospitalMedicalCenter(CCHMC)orotherareahospitalmayrequestaroomatRonaldMcDonaldHouse.AsourHouseisalwaysfull,familieswholivewithina40-mileradiusofRMHCmaystayattheHouseonlyundercertaincircumstances,describedbelow.

Thosefamilieslivingwithina40-mileradiuswhohaveachildintheCardiacCareUnit,IntensiveCareUnit(“ICU”)orRegionalCenterforNewbornIntensiveCare(“RCNIC”)maystayattheHouseaslongastheirchildisapatientinoneofthesespecialcareunits.InthecaseofICUorRCNIC,afamily’scontinuedstaywillbehandledonacase-by-casebasisatthesolediscretionoftheGuestServicesManagerafterconsultationwiththefamily’ssocialworker.

WhomaystayatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?Canotherfamilymembersstaywithafamily?

ParentsorlegalguardiansofanychildmayresideatRonaldMcDonaldHouse.Parentsarewelcometobringsiblingsbutnotethatchildcareisnotprovidedandthatanadultmustsupervisechildrenatalltimes

Anyoneoutsidetheimmediatefamily,suchasanaunt,uncleorgrandparent,mustbehelpingtoserveassupportforthefamilyandmustbeapprovedbyRMHCmanagement.Wecanprovideonlyoneroomperfamily.IncompliancewithFireCodeRegulations,wedohaveamaximumcapacityforeachroom.Themaximumnumberofpeopleperroomisdependentonthesizeoftheroom.Roomsrangeinoccupancysizefrom2–6people.Ourlargestroomsareourtransplantpatients.

HowmanypeoplecanstayinaRonaldMcDonaldHouseroom?

Thenumberoffamilymembersperroomdependsontheroomsize:

  • Largeroom—6(theseroomsarereservedforfamilieswithchildreninisolation,normallyafteratransplant)
  • Mediumroom—4(majorityofrooms)
  • Smallroom—2

Whatsecuritymeasuresaretakentoensurethesafetyofguestfamilies?

AtRonaldMcDonaldHouse,ourtoppriorityisthehealth,safetyandwellbeingofourguestfamilies.Forthisreason,wehavevariouspoliciesandsafeguardsinplace:

  • Anyoneundertheageof18mustbeaccompaniedbyanadultrelativeorlegalguardian.
  • Foryourhealth,allfamiliesarescreenedtopreventthespreadofinfectiousdiseasesthroughoutourRonaldMcDonaldHouse.
  • ThesafetyofallRonaldMcDonaldHousefamiliesisveryimportanttous.PleasespeakwithaGuestServicesManagerifanyoneplanningtostaywithyourfamilyhasarestrainingorderor"nocontact"order.
  • RMHCreservestherighttorefuseadmittancetoanypotentialresidentorguestwithacriminalconviction.RMHCdoesnotadmitanyonewithafelonyormisdemeanorconvictionthatmaythreatenthehealth,safety,welfare,andabilityofotherindividualstopeacefullyenjoytheHouse(e.g.,violentcrimes,domesticviolence,childabuse,sexoffenses,illegaldrugactivityand/orburglary).
  • RMHCalsowillnotadmitanyindividualwhoprovidesfalse,incomplete,ormisleadingresponsesduringtheformalcriminalhistorybackgroundcheckprocess.RMHC,initssolediscretion,willmakethatdeterminationbeforegrantinganindividual’sapplicationfortemporaryresidence.
  • RMHCalsoreservestherighttoexpelaguestforanyotherinappropriate,irresponsible,orcriminalbehaviorthattakesplacewhiletemporarilyresidingattheHouse.RMHCconductsaformalcriminalhistorybackgroundcheckonallindividualsapplyingfortemporaryresidenceatRMHC.(Thisincludesovernightguests.)

HowdoesafamilyrequestaroomatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

AsourHouseisnormallyfull,weplacefamiliesinneedofaroomonourwaitinglist.RMHCwillreviewandconsiderapplicationsfortemporaryresidencenoearlierthansevencalendardayspriortoafamily’sarrivalatCincinnatiChildren’sHospitalMedicalCenteroranyotherqualifyingareahospital.Afterreceiptoftheinitialinformationthefamilywillberequiredtocompleteandsubmitbackanumberofformsincludingacriminalbackgroundcheckauthorization.Itwillattempttoplaceafamilyonthewaitinglist24hourspriortotheirarrivalatCCHMCoranyotherqualifyingareahospital. RMHCwillattempttoplacefamiliesfromanothercountryorHawaii,AlaskaorPuertoRicoonthewaitinglist72hourspriortotheirhospitaladmission.Thewaitlistisneitherareservationnoraguaranteetoaroom.

Thenumbertophonetorequestaroomis(513)636-7642.Sincethereisalwaysawaitinglist,RonaldMcDonaldHousecannotaccommodatewalk-ins.

*Wedonottakeadvancereservationsbecauseweneverknowhowlongachildmayneedtobeinthehospital.Becauseofthis,wearenotabletoreserveorguaranteearoommore.

MayafamilystayatRonaldMcDonaldHouseiftheirchildisbeingseenasanoutpatientonly?

Yes.AfamilyiswelcomedtoaroomatRonaldMcDonaldHousewhethertheirchildisaninpatientoroutpatientatCCHMC;or,withpre-approval,anotherareahospital.Thechildmustbeage18oryounger;although,exceptionscanbemadeforpatientsover18whoreceivedmedicaltreatmentatCCHMCpriortoage18.Ifthepatientisundertheageof18,heorshemustbeaccompaniedintheHousebyaparentorguardianatalltimes.

Foranyfamilywhosechildisbeingtreatedonanoutpatientbasis,thechildmustbereceivingtreatmentatleasttwiceperweek.(Exceptionstothismaybeapprovedonacase-by-casebasisbytheOperationsDirector).ItisimportanttonotethefamilymayberequiredtoshowproofoftreatmentfrequencytoaGuestServicesManager.

Ifafamilyneedstoreturnatalaterdate,cantheyreservearoom?

Unfortunately,wecannotreservearoomforaparticularvisit,butthefamilymayphonetheHousetorequestaspotonthewaitinglistupto24hours(or72hoursforfamiliesoutsidethe48contiguousU.S.).Assoonasaroombecomesavailable,theHousewillcontactthefamily.Ifthefamilyneedstomakealternativearrangements(duetothewaitinglist),theycancontactGuestServicesatCincinnatiChildren’sHospitalMedicalCenter.

Canafamilygohomeandkeeptheirroom?

TheHousemaintainsawaitinglistoffamiliesrequestingroomsatRonaldMcDonaldHouse.Ifafamilyisunabletousetheirroomatleastonceeachday,RMHCwillrequestthattheycheckoutsothatanotherfamilymaybeserved.ThefamilymayrequesttobeplacedonthewaitinglistagainoncetheyhavecheckedoutoftheHouse.

Canafamilyhavemorethanoneroom;forexample,asecondroomforanurseorgrandparents?

AlthoughtheHousehas78rooms,wearealwaysfulltocapacityandalwayshaveawaitinglist.Asaresult,welimitthe

roomstooneperfamily.

IsthereafeetoliveatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

Itcosts$90anightperroomtooperatetheRonaldMcDonaldHouseprogram.TosupporttheongoingoperationsoftheHouse,weencourage,butdonotrequire,gueststomakeadonationof$25pernight,orwhatevertheyareable,inordertocontinuetheHouseoperationsforfutureguests.However,nofamilyiseverturnedawayduetotheirinabilitytocontribute.PleasediscussanyquestionswiththeGuestServicesManager.

Wealsoworkwithfamiliestoseewhetherathirdparty,suchasmedicalinsurance,willpay.IfyouhaveinsuranceorMedicaid,pleasecontactthembeforecomingtoRonaldMcDonaldHousetoestablishwhatisrequiredforthemtopayforyourstay.

WhatistherelationshipbetweentheHouseandMcDonald’s?

WhileMcDonald’srestaurantssupportRonaldMcDonaldHousethroughfundingandtheuseoftheirinternationallyrecognizedbrand,RMHCisneitherownednorfullyfundedbyMcDonald’s.ThefinancialcontributionsfromMcDonald’saccountfor8%oftheRMHCannualoperatingbudget.

WhatistherelationshipbetweenRonaldMcDonaldHouseandCincinnatiChildren’s?

CincinnatiChildren’sHospitalMedicalCenter(CCHMC)andCincinnati’sRonaldMcDonaldHouseshareastrategicpartnership.OurHouseexistsprimarilytoservethepatientsandfamiliesofCCHMC;although,wedoonoccasionacceptfamilieswithchildrenatotherareahospitals.CCHMChasmadesignificantfinancialcontributionstoandinvestmentsinourHouse,includingan$11millionstrategicinvestmentenablingustobuildournew30-roomwestwing.WhileRonaldMcDonaldHouseisgratefulforourpartnershipwithCCHMC,ourHouseisneitherownednorfullyfundedbyCCHMC.

WhatdoesRonaldMcDonaldHouseoffer?

  • Eachfamilyhastheirownbedroomwithoneortwobeds,privatebathroom,telephone,hairdryer,televisionandDVDplayer.
  • Sharedcommunalspacesinclude:kitchenanddiningareas,largelivingrooms,acomputerareawithinternetaccess,alibrary,laundryfacilities(washeranddryer)@50ceach,agameroom,indoorandoutdoorplayareasandaccesstoanexerciseroom.
  • Weprovideguestfamilieswithtowels,blanketsandotherlinensandaskonlythat,whileinourHouse,gueststakeresponsibilityforkeepingtheseitemslaundered.
  • Weprovidelimitedcleaningsuppliesandpaperproducts.
  • Weoftenhavebasicfooditemsandtoiletriesavailable.
  • Wealsohavecribsandbreastpumpsavailableforgueststocheckout.
  • Whilewehaveonlylimitedwheelchairstooffer,wecanaccommodatefamilieswithwheelchairs.
  • Wehavealimitednumberofstrollers,carseatsandbabymonitors.
  • Familiesareresponsibleforkeepingtheirroomingoodcondition,cleaningupaftertheirfamilyinallareasoftheHouseandcleaningtheirlinensasneeded.
  • Freesecureparkingforonevehicleonly.

IsfoodavailableatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

  • RonaldMcDonaldHousehastwokitchensforourfamiliestouse.Eachfamilyisprovidedwiththeirownsmallkitchencabinetfordryfood,aswellascommonrefrigeratorspacewithamarkedbasket.Thekitchenisfullystockedwithcookingappliancesandutensils.
  • Freecoffeeisavailable24/7withavendingmachinewhereguestsmaybuyCokeproducts.
  • Westrivetoprovideatleastonemealadaypreparedbyoutsidevolunteermealgroups(civicgroups,churches,areabusinesses,etc.),butwecannotguaranteeamealeachday.
  • Wedoprovideapantrystockedwithbasicnon-perishablefood,aswellassuchstapleitemsasmilk,orangejuice,eggs,breadandsomeotheritems.

WhattypeofactivitiesdoestheRonaldMcDonaldHouseofferformychildrentoenjoy?

OurHouseoffersavarietyofareasforchildrenandparentstorelaxandhavefun:

  • Playroom
  • Gameroomwithapooltable,arcadegames,PlayStationandWiisystems
  • Craftroom
  • Gamesclosetwithpuzzlesandboardgames
  • Plannedactivities,puppetshows,musicalperformers,theatre
  • Therapydogs
  • Teachingprogramforschool-agedpatientchildren
  • Outsidegardenplayarea
  • Basketballhoops

CanRonaldMcDonaldHouseassistmewithticketstolocalattractions?

OurHouseisfortunatetohavethesupportofseveralareaattractions,including:

  • CincinnatiChildren’sMuseum(limitednumber)
  • CincinnatiZooandBotanicalGarden
  • NewportAquarium(limitednumber)

WillRonaldMcDonaldHouseprovidemewithtransportation?

  • ThereisashuttleservicebetweenRonaldMcDonaldHouseandCincinnatiChildren’sfrom5:00PMto11:00PMweekdaysand9:ooAM–3:00PMand5:00PM–11:00PMonweekends.
  • Theshuttlealsotakesgueststoareagrocerystoresonselecteddayseachweek,aswellastoavarietyofotherstores,includingWal-Mart,Kroger,Meier’sandTarget.

HowcloseisCincinnatiChildren’stoRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

  • Acrossthestreet,walkingdistance
  • SeeMap

DoesRonaldMcDonaldHouseprovideinternetaccess?

Yes,wirelessinternetaccessisprovidedinourHouse.

WhatcanfamiliesexpectwhentheyarriveatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

Afterthefamilyhasphonedtobeplacedonthewaitinglist,theywillbecontactedbyastaffmemberorvolunteerassoonasaroombecomesavailable.Familiescancheckinbetween9:00AMand9:00PM;however,exceptionscanbemadeuponrequest.

EachRonaldMcDonaldHousefamilyisaskedtomakeanappointmenttimeforcheck-in.AlladultguestsarerequiredtohaveaphotoIDwiththematcheck-in.WhenthefamilyarrivesattheHouse,theywillberequiredtocompletethecheck-inprocesswithamemberoftheHousestafforwithoneofourvolunteers.Duringthischeck-inprocess,thefamilywillreceiveabriefintroduction,areviewofHousepoliciesandproceduresandwilltakeaquicktouroftheHouse.

ARonaldMcDonaldHouserepresentativewillalsoshowthefamilytotheirprivatebedroom/bathroomandprovidethemwithasetofkeys.Afterthisorientation,familiesareabletoreturntothehospital,relaxintheirroom,enjoyamealwiththeirfamilyandotherguestsinthediningroomorspendtimeinanyofthecommonareaswithinourHouse.

Canflowers,packagesandgiftbasketsbesenttoafamilywhiletheyarestayingatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

Yes.Weacceptdeliveriesduringnormalbusinesshoursandwillbehappytoforwardthemtothefamily.Becausefamiliessometimescheckoutunexpectedly,however,itisbesttocallandconfirmthataparticularfamilyisstillstayingattheHousebeforeyousendanything.

Pleasenote,however,wemaynotacceptanydeliveryofmedicalsuppliesormedications.Afamilyrepresentativemustbepresenttoreceivesuchdeliveries.

DoesRonaldMcDonaldHouseprovidecounseling?

Thereisnoformalcounselingprogram,butfamiliesdoreceivesupportfromstaff,volunteersandotherfamiliesgoingthroughsimilarexperiences.

Arefamiliespermittedtohavevisitors?

Limiteddayvisitorsarewelcome,butmustsigninatthefrontdesk.ThechildrenlivingatRonaldMcDonaldHousearemedicallyfragileandhighlysusceptibletoinfections.Anypersonwhohasaphysicalconditionthatwouldendangerthehealthofourotherguests,suchasacoldorflu,chickenpox,etc.,maynotvisitRonaldMcDonaldHouse.Visitinghoursarebetween9:00AMand10:00PM.

Istheremaidservice?

No.YourroomatRonaldMcDonaldHouseisyourplacetorestandrejuvenateasyoucareforyourillchild.OurvolunteersareverygenerouswiththeirtimeandenergiesinoperatingourHouse,buttheyarenotaskedtocleanyourroomduringyourstay.Weaskthatyoutakeresponsibilityformaintainingyourroomwhileyouarehere,includingcleaningyourroomdaily,washingyourowndishesandfrequentlylaunderingyourbedlinensandbathtowels.

Istherebabysittingservice?

No.Parentsarerequiredtoberesponsiblefortheirownchildrenandprovidesupervisionatalltimes.Childrenundertheageof18maynotbeleftaloneintheHouse.

IssmokingpermittedatRonaldMcDonaldHouse?

ThereisnosmokinganywhereinsideRonaldMcDonaldHouse.Thereis,however,onedesignatedoutdoorareaforsmoking.ThisdesignatedsmokingareaisTHEONLYplacesmokingisallowed.TherestofourHouseandgroundsaresmokefree.

Isthereacurfew?

Tomaintainthesafetyofourguests,thedoorstoRonaldMcDonaldHousearealwayslocked.Guestsreceivekeyssothattheymaycomeandgotosuittheneedsoftheirchildren.Quiethoursarebetween10:00PMand9:00AM.Weaskthatallguestsrespectthesequiethours.

WhatdoIneedtobringwithmetocheckin?

Pleasebringthefollowingwithyouforcheckin:

  • YourphotoID.
  • Yourinsurance/Medicaidcardandinformation.
  • OurHousehasanaccesscontrolsystemtohelpkeepourfamiliessafe. Weaskforadepositof$5eachfortheFOB’sthatyouwillbeusingtoopenyourdoor. Amaximumof2willbegiventofamilies,soyouwillneedamaximumof$10foradeposit. ThiswillneedtobeincashoracheckthatwillbereturnedwhenyoucheckoutandreturntheFOB’s.

Arethereroomsavailableforshorterstays?

Duetoourlongwaitinglist,itcanbedifficulttogetaroomatourHouseforfamilieswhoonlyneedtostayforafewdays.Toassistthesefamilies,wehavereservedfiveroomsinourHouseexclusivelyforguestsstayingfournightsorless.Theseroomscanbebookedupto30daysinadvance. Toapplytostayinoneofourshort-termrooms,pleasecompletetheonlineapplicationandcontactoneofthefollowingstafftocheckavailability:

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati FAQ, May 2013 Page 1