Keeping Families Close

When you order at McDonald's, you get asked if you would like to donate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. If you don't know about the organization, you've heard of it. The Ronald McDonald House of Charity Slogan is: "Keeping Families Close...To their hospitalized children. Close to healthcare. Close to the best medicine- family." They achieve this by allowing parents of hospitalized children to stay in their free housing where they receive free meals, hygiene products, laundry rooms and supplies, and tutoring/on-site schooling opportunities for children also staying with their parents. All while being in or near the hospitals where their children are, to encourage family involvement in a child's medical care.

A study conducted in 2019 by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project shared that the average time for a child to be hospitalized is 4.5 days (calculated by finding the median value reported by each age group). Children with complex medical needs are more likely to be hospitalized more frequently and for longer periods. In the United States, it is estimated that 25% of children born through 18 years have complex care needs (Nygard et al., 2025). In my hometown, there is a lack of specialty surgeons for pediatric care. Therefore, children requiring a specialized surgery are referred to the Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis or the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, both of which have a Ronald McDonald House to support families staying in town to care for their children during an extended hospital stay.

Families struggle to balance household and work/life responsibilities when children are receiving medical care, which requires them to be hospitalized. Staying at the Ronald McDonald House allows family members to stay together, allowing for other children, parents, and visitors during their visitation hours. Parents of sick children are likely to experience guilt, depression, frustration, isolation, and anxiety (Nygard, et al., 2025). Studies have shown that parental support during a hospital stay can reduce stress for both the parent and the child, thus achieving better medical outcomes and healing (Pineda, et al., 2019). Providing a supportive space for families to rest, obtain free meals, and involve family and other parties going through similar situations provides support and a sense of community for parents and caregivers experiencing a medical crisis with their children. In turn, it better supports their children.

Monetary donations go towards purchasing groceries, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and meals. To make a monetary donation to the Ronald McDonald House of Charities, click this link: Donate | RMHC

To view their webpage and learn more about their community involvement, supports, and ways to volunteer, click this link: Home - RMHC NEIN

Resources

Pineda, R., Bender, J., Hall, B., Shabosky, L., Anneca, A., & Smith, J. (2019). Parent Participation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Predictors and Relationships to Neurobehavior and Developmental Outcomes (PMC5856604). National Library of Medicine. http://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc5856604/

Nygard, C., Clancy, A., & Kitzmuller, G. (2025). "I Am Forever Changed": A Phenomenological Study of the Existential Experiences of Parents of Children and Young People With Complex Care Needs. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(5), 2239– 2847. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jan.16509

Weiss, Ph.D, A. J., Liang, Ph.D, L., & Martin, Ph.D, K. (2022). Overview of Hospital Stays Among Children and Adolescents, 2019 (Statistical Brief #299). Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. http://hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb299-Hospital-Stays- Children-2019.jsp