With only 16 specialty Pediatric hospitals serving the entire country, travel to access healthcare is essential for two out of three Canadian families. 

As the only national organization enabling access to Canada’s Pediatric healthcare system, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is proud to work closely with, and alongside, Pediatric healthcare partners in 23 cities to support caregivers navigating their child’s medical journey. 

For 40+ years RMHC has supported over 468,000 families with sick children through accommodation, meals and wellness programming that help ease distinct and significant challenges, providing community, relief from social isolation and financial burden (saving families $57 million in out-of-pocket expenses annually). Today, RMHC remains committed to partnering with the sector on the efforts towards right-sizing Pediatric healthcare to achieve a connected, equitable and accessible system designed for
children and their families. 

Spotlight on community partnership in Niagara 

As the need to offer specialized care closer to home grows, greater family support in community hospitals is essential. This makes the partnership between RMHC and local hospitals a great example of how holistic integrated systems of care can better serve families.  

Many families in the Niagara region who require specialty Pediatric care must travel to McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton. While being treated at hospital, 1,000 out-of-town families (40% of whom are from Niagara) stay at the RMHC South Central Ontario (SCO) House, steps away from McMaster, and thousands more use their Family Room inside the
hospital. 

On August 7, Niagara Health, together with RMHC SCO will open a Family Room in the Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catherines. This will be the 19th Family Room in Canada and will provide a much-needed non-medical space for families inside the hospital to find a moment of respite away from the medical environment.

“Parents are expected to be by their child’s bedside and hold it together, but they also need support” says Mario DeDivitiis, RMHC SCO CEO, adding “We know that with a well-cared for family by their side, sick children get stronger.” 

RMHC Family Rooms provide families with a warm, living-room-style space to recharge, enjoy nourishing meals and access laundry facilities at no cost, without having to leave their child. 

“The RMHC Family Room reflects our unwavering dedication to patient-centered care,” says Heather Paterson, Executive-Vice President, Clinical Operations, Niagara Health. “We are thrilled about the strong and collaborative partnership with RMHC South Central Ontario and how we’ll continue working together to meet the needs of families at the Marotta Family Hospital.”

Meeting families’ needs

In the Niagara Region, where one in five households are food insecure (the national average is 18%), access to nutritious food is top of mind. 

Not surprisingly given the soaring cost of living and inflation pressures faced by many Canadians, food programming has become RMHC’s second most demanded program across the country after accommodation (+44% in 2023 vs. 2022). And for families with sick children, these pressures are compounded by unexpected out-of-pocket expenses like lodging, parking, and meals. 

“Parents aren’t patients while their child is in hospital so, unfortunately, parents aren’t fed” said Mario DeDivitiis, RMHC SCO CEO, adding “No parent should have to choose between parking expenses and feeding themselves, but we know that is the reality for some families.”

Community supporting community 

The hospital takes care of the sick child while RMHC takes care of the family. To measurably improve health outcomes of children, collaboration in the sector is important. This is why, across the country RMHC works closely with hospital partners to find new and innovative ways to bridge gaps and augment support for families across physical, social and mental health dimensions. 

For example, Niagara Health and RMHC developed a unique model to better support patients and their families by jointly training, engaging, and leaning on the same group of volunteers. Furthermore, Niagara Health provides access to their processes and infrastructure. Together, there is a shared commitment to keep the Family Room open 24/7, as well as meet the community’s most pressing need: meal programming (available during select hours).

Local support for community projects is essential. Silvergate Homes, a local family-run business, oversaw the development and construction of the new space. Local McDonald’s Franchisees, long-term supporters of RMHC, did not waver from their support. And notably, many to-go meal options offered within the RMHC Family Room are prepared and donated by students at Niagara College’s Culinary Program. 

 “At the end of the day, we have the same goal; enabling better outcomes for children across Canada” said Kate Horton, RMHC Canada CEO adding “it truly takes a village.” 

Learn more about RMHC programs across Canada at rmhc.ca.