Frequently Asked Questions
Who can stay at a Ronald McDonald House?Any family requiring accommodation while their child is in hospital can stay at a Ronald McDonald House. Most families who stay have had to travel outside their local area to obtain the treatment their child needs.
Do you have a set age limit for children/patients?Yes, up to the age of 21.
How do you request a room at a House?Referrals are usually made from the referring or receiving hospital, however if you think you may be eligible for accommodation at one of the Ronald McDonald Houses please contact the Travel and Accommodation representative or Social Worker at your local hospital or phone the Ronald McDonald House closest to the Hospital you are attending. Ronald McDonald House Auckland Ph. 09 303 1365. Ronald McDonald House Wellington 04 389 5505 or Ronald McDonald House South Island (located in Christchurch) 03 377 3311
How much does it cost to stay?
There is no charge to stay at a Ronald McDonald House.
In some cases, a family's stay may be part funded under the National Travel Accommodation Policy 2006. To be eligible for travel and accommodation assistance it is necessary to contact the Travel and Accommodation representative at your local hospital. You may also be eligible for some assistance related to your travel to and from the hospital (if you live outside of the major cities)
Upon arrival, a staff member will take you on a tour of the House and tell you any rules and regulations including fire procedures, entry and exit procedures, smoking and non-smoking areas and kitchen rules.
What facilities are provided in the House?All families have their own bedroom with a private ensuite. The remaining facilities in the Houses include:
- Car parking
- Laundry
- Dining area
- Main lounge
- Smaller lounges
- Kitchen
- Quiet room
The above facilities are communal and available to all families staying in the House.
What do I need to bring to the House?Families should bring clothing, toiletries and anything else you would take on a trip away. Linen and towels are provided.
What special policies are there?
As Ronald McDonald House's are homes away from home for families of children undergoing medical treatment, it is important that everyone staying in the House or visiting is free of any communicable disease.
All guests are required to indicate any exposure to chicken pox or any other infectious diseases on the guest registration form.
In situations where the child on the ward has an infectious disease, e.g. meningococcal meningitis, then a doctor's clearance must be obtained to confirm that the family members have been treated and cannot pass the disease on to anyone in the House.
If a family member staying in the House becomes ill with a communicable illness such as the flu, the House Staff may need to seek alternative accommodation for them until such time as they are deemed well enough to return to the House.
This policy also applies to staff and volunteers.
The other special policy is also a medical one:
When Ronald McDonald's name was chosen to give to the Houses, it was selected because children love the gentle, funny clown and feel safe and comfortable in a place that's named after him. Accordingly, no medical procedures are ever performed at a Ronald McDonald House.
There is no time limit on length of stay - a family can stay as long as their child is in treatment. The length of time can vary from one night to one year - averaging 2 weeks.
Are meals provided in the House?
Families generally prefer to prepare their own meals, especially if they have any fussy eaters with them. The Houses all have large, communal kitchens where meal times become one of the special times of day when families can eat together, and talk about what they are going through with others who know exactly what it's like to have a sick child in hospital.
However each House regularly has special nights where volunteer groups come to the House to prepare a meal for all the families.
No, each House is a not-for-profit organisation operated by their respective Charitable Trusts. They are community supported facilities.
The charity that McDonald's contributes to is Ronald McDonald House Charities. This charity supports all the Ronald McDonald Houses by making expansion and building grants, as well as providing help towards each House's annual running costs.
It costs around 3 million each year to run Ronald McDonald Houses.
From the community. Throughout the country, McDonald's restaurants and groups fundraise to help support Ronald McDonald Houses. Each House has a database of loyal supporters that is made up of individuals, businesses, community groups, service clubs, partners and families.
From government. Most patients who need to travel out of their region to go to hospital qualify for travel assistance from their District Health Board. Each year the Houses receive over $1.5million in government payments.
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