A home-away-from-home for families with kids battling cancer and other serious illnesses as they undergo treatment in NYC's top hospitals

Ronald McDonald House New York (the “House”) provides families of children with cancer and other serious illnesses a strong and compassionate circle of support so that, no matter their social factors, they can focus on the only thing that matters: their child.

Below outlines services and amenities available to families staying at Ronald McDonald House New York as well as important House procedures and policies.

Please take a look at the information below. All guests are required to abide by our rules and regulations during their stay.

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General Policies

General Infectious Disease Control

All guests must be free of fever, cough, sore throat, or flu like symptoms prior to check-in.

If you develop these symptoms or become ill during your stay, please notify Family Support or a staff member immediately in order for the House to take proper precautions.

Caregiver/Support Person

All patients, regardless of their age, must have an accompanying care giver that is 18 year +.

ZERO TOLERANCE

There is a zero tolerance policy for smoking in the House or 100 ft. from the building.

Families are NOT allowed to bring drugs, alcohol, or weapons of any kind into the House,

Health & Safety

All vadults, 18 years and above, must complete our Essential Services screening form every time they enter the House. If an individual's temperature is above 100.4F/38 C or are experiencing fever, cough, chills, headache, loss of taste, or smell or think they may have been exposed to any type of infectious disease, please inform an RMH-NY staff member and your medical team immediately.

Cleanliness Protocol

We have further enhanced our cleaning efforts to disinfect and sanitize all high-touch and public areas However, we also heavily rely on Staff and Families to help in keeping the House clean,

Families are required to clean and maintain their rooms on a regular basis.

All families should be mindful of any food storage in their own rooms and clean out their spaces regularly.

The operations team will provide cleaning supplies to families.

Management reserves the right to conduct regular and unannounced room inspections at any time.

Programs and Communal Space

All communal spaces are open. To reserve time to use these spaces and to learn more about the programs provided by the House, please use the House QR code which you can find in the RMH-NY lobby near the front desk and other places around the House.

COVID-19 Policy Update

RMH-NY's current prevention policies in place to prevent the risk and spread of the COVID-19 as of July 1st, 2023:

  • Masks must be worn at all times except while in the privacy of your own room along with appropriate shirt and footwear.
  • All individuals must complete a Screening Form each time they enter the House.
  • The use of laundry facilities is available by appointment. Sign up at the front desk.
  • Communal spaces are open. Please use Calendly to sign up to utilize these amenities.
  • No external visitors are allowed in the House at this time.
  • Families are responsible for routinely cleaning their room and discarding stored food.
  • Each room is equipped with a mini-fridge. (Breastmilk storage available on the second floor.)
  • A communal microwave is available in the 2nd floor dining room. Coffee, tea, and water are available in the lobby. Please help yourself.
  • Meals are served in the 2nd floor dining room at 12 pm (lunch) and 5:30 pm (dinner). Leftover meals can be taken from the dining room and are available on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Families are not allowed to alcohol or drugs into the House.
  • Transportation with Ride Health is available ONLY for hospital/doctors appointments.
  • There is a zero tolerance policy for smoking in the House or within 100 ft. of the building.

Arrival and Departure

Reservations

Only your hospital social worker can request, extend, or amend your reservation at the House. Accompanying guest(s) must be cleared by your hospital social worker before being added to guest reservations. Unexpected guests will not be allowed to stay at our facility. For further inquiries regarding reservations, please email family@rmh-newyork.org.

Airport, Public Transit and Parking

We are accessible from three major airports: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) - directions, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - directions, and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - directions. The closest airport is the LaGuardia Airport.

Multiple taxi and ride sharing services are available in New York City including Uber and Lyft. Public transit is also available.

Parking is not provided but several parking garages are available near by at varying rates. Free street parking is also available as well but is subjected to certain rules and open spots may be difficult to find.

Spot Hero, ParkEagles, and ParkMobile are apps that can help you identify nearby and affordable parking.

Check-in

Guests 18 and over must provide photo ID at check-in.

Only two room keys per room will be given to those 18 and older. All patients must have an accompanying caregiver 18 and over, regardless of the patient’s age.

House ID badges will be provided upon registration and must be worn at all times when inside RMH-NY.

During Your Stay

Our private bedrooms are equipped with two twin beds, a full-sized pull-out couch, a dresser, a closet, and a full private bathroom. 

We provide access to kitchens, a playroom, wellness center, laundry facilities, tutoring, complimentary wi-fi, family support services & serenity space, and transportation to and from hospitals for all guests.

There is no free parking on site but there are many parking garage options nearby.

Our community spaces like the Macy’s Living Room, Blavatnik Family Foundation Wellness Center, John Shevel Outdoor Terraces, and both libraries host numerous fun activities.

Our volunteers serve meals in the 2nd floor dining room from the communal kitchens connected. All meal leftovers are available in the nearby communal
fridges after meal times.

Check-out

We ask that guests leave their bedroom space, neat and tidy, and in the same condition as when they arrived.

Please take out all garbage, remove food items from the kitchen and mini fridge.

Check out time for all guests is 2 pm on their scheduled departure day. Please return all room keys and House IDs.

Please reach out to the front desk or email family@rmh-newyork.org if you need an extension or a later check-out time.

Family Support

Caregiver Support Group

Our Caregiver Support Groups meeting provides a place to:

• Stay connected
• Share feelings confidentially
• Meet new people & make new friends!
• Receive help navigating a child's medical crisis
• Learn from others who have walked a similar path

For more information or to sign up, please visit here on our Virtual Programs page.

Support Services

Our support services are toensure families receive individualized care throughout their journey at RMH-NY. Our support offerings provide caregiver support on an individual and group level to provide emotional support and to be a connector for our families external and internal resources. (Alongside our Child Life specialist, we offer Sibling Support Gr weekly basis. The goal of this program is for the siblings of patients to receive extra support during their stay at the house through fun activities.

Additionally, we are able to connect RMH-NY families to resources through our Resource Library and Family Resource Nights.

Our team has a diverse library of brochures, books, and
informational packets surrounding financial, medical, and supportive resources within New York City and country-wide.

RMH-NY has created an easier way for our families to receive information about the specific hospital system by making “Hospital Navigation cards”.

Within each card there will be a list of important services and contacts to help families connect to the services they need from
patient representatives, translation services, and their Social Work teams.

Email family@rmh-newyork.org for your hospital system navigation card.)

In addition, the Family Support team has a virtual Resource Library for our families to explore. (Our Resource Nights are an opportunity for families to meet and connect with representatives from legal, financial, emotional support, cultural organizations and more.)

Check out our Resource Library for more information!

In addition, the Family Support team has a virtual Resource Library for our families to explore.

Check out our Resource Library for more information!

Bereavement Program

The Bereavement Program at RMH-NY provides support and guidance to bereaved parents and family members following the death of a child. Our program provides emotional support, referral information, information about grief, and communication assistance needed between the hospital and families. We provide information for our families about what funeral services may look like within this time to help prepare and support any questions that come up. For more information, please email family@rmh-newyork.org.

Check out our Bereavement Program page for more information.

Staying at the House

Attire

All staff and families must wear a face mask when they are outside of their private room. This includes all common areas and the outdoor spaces (when open).

Additionally, shirts and footwear must be worn in all common areas on the House.

Laundry Information

Laundry is available on each guest floor

To schedule a time to use the laundry on your floor, please reserve time at our front desk or using the QR code

If the laundry room on your floor is unavailable at the time needed, please contact the front desk with alternate availability.

Garbage Information

The trash and recycling room is located on your floor at one end of the hall, the other end is the laundry room.

Please place all trash down the trash chute built into the wall, Just pull on the handle to open the chute.

Recycling can be placed in the bin located in the room. There is a sign to let you know what we can and cannot recycle.

Additional trash bags are located in the room, if the room has run out of extra trash bags please dial 0 and inform the front desk.

All medical waste should be collected in a medical waste bag and disposed of in the hospital.

If your child is undergoing radiation treatments and you need to dispose of their diaper, please bring it to the front desk for proper disposal.

Room Temperature

There is a thermostat located in the room to control your room's temperature.

The windows can also be cracked opened. Press on the two clamps and push in the opposite direction to open the window.

Please do not turn the AC/Heat with the window open.

WiFi & Television Info

WiFi is available at the house!
The WiFi connection is named RMH-NY. Once selected please wait for the pop up and follow prompts for unlimited connection. For assistance, press the WiFi button on your room telephone button.

The TV has various channels, please check the guide for specifics. Channel 1 has house related information, memos and updates. Movies are free to rent (limit to 2 every 24 hours, when you start a movie it counts towards this limit even if you do not watch it). For assistance, press the TV button on your room telephone button.

Our TVs can also Chromecast from your device. If you are having trouble setting it up, please reach out to the front desk.

Telephone Information

The room phone is able to make free local and international calls, just dial "9-1" followed by the number you are trying to contact.

Dial 0 to contact the front desk.

To make international calls, Press 9 and then 011 and then the country code.

If you are in need of anything or have any questions please contact the front desk.

Room Arrangement

The couch pulls out into a full size bed.

The room can be arranged however you'd like.

Please return the room to its original state upon check out.

Bathroom Information

Rooms with Tubs: To use the shower head pull the rim of the faucet down while the water is on.

Rooms without Tubs: To use the shower head just turn the handle.

Shower Chairs and Tub Stoppers are available, please dial 0 to request one from the front desk.

Linens & Toiletries

Towels, Sheets and Blankets are provided in the wrapped bag on the couch.

Please place them back in this bag upon check out.

If additional linens are needed please dial 0 to contact the front desk.

Toiletries such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, shampoo, baby diapers, etc. are available. Please contact the front desk.

If there are items that you did not bring or need to refill, check with the front desk first before buying. WE might have exactly what you are looking for.

Meal Program

Meal Service & Times

We have an incredible community that supports our House and the families staying here in providing three meals a day, seven days a week!

When available, menu's for the day are available on the House QR code and on the welcome screen in the main lobby.

All meals are packaged individually and served by volunteers in the 2nd floor dining room.

Breakfast (when available) will be in the communal fridge or in breakfast bags in the pantry.

Lunch is served from 12 PM - 1 PM.

Dinner is served from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

Requesting Meals

Taking part in our meal program is always optional and free of charge. Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies. We are not able to accommodate all individual requests, but we will do our best to honor requests

Leftover Meals & Coffee

Any leftover meals, breakfast bags (when available) and additional snacks are located in the Community Fridge in the 2nd Floor Dining Room, where you will also find the ice machine.

Coffee, hot water and ice cream are located in the main lobby for you to take at any time.

Additionally, in the second floor dining floor there is a water filter, microwave, and coffee machines.

Please note that all water in the building is triple-filtered and safe to drink!

Hospital Transportation

Hospital Transportation

Our team is proud to announce our partnership with Ride Health to offer safe, efficient and complimentary rides to and from hospital visits. Families are now able to schedule their own rides with Ride Health 24/7.

Please note that transportation is provided to and from medical appointments and the hospital only. To change your medical facility, please reach out to family@rmh-newyork.org or contact a member of Family Support.

Can’t find what you're looking for?

Visit our FAQ section or contact us at family@rmh-newyork.org for more information!

You can also text message our Front Desk by clicking on the SMS link below from your phone!

FAQ
FAQ