When your child needs medical care, you deserve a place to stay close.
Our Houses offer comfort, care, and a welcoming community near your child’s medical treatment. Explore who can stay, how referrals work, and what to expect during your time with us.
Who Can Stay
See eligibility requirements and guidelines.
Referral Steps
Learn how to request a stay through your hospital.
Our Locations
Explore Washington House and Gateway House.
Contact House Staff
Get direct phone numbers and location info for both Houses.
When your child needs medical care, we’re here to help your family feel supported and cared for. Through uncertain days and everyday moments, our Houses offer comfort, connection, and a place to turn.
A child’s medical journey can bring uncertainty, stress, and countless questions. Where you’ll sleep, what you’ll eat, and how you’ll manage the days ahead shouldn’t be among them.
At Ronald McDonald House Ohio Valley, we provide families with a welcoming place to stay near the care their child needs. More than a room, our Houses offer comfort, support, and a community that understands what you’re going through.
We’re here to support families when they need us most.
Private and shared rooms with home-like amenities, just steps from the hospital.
Connect with other families who understand what you’re going through.
An on-site home means more time at your child’s side and less time away, when it matters most.
Enjoy home-cooked meals, family spaces, and programs designed for your stay.
Whether you’re facing a short hospital stay or a longer journey, our doors—and our hearts—are open.
Families may be eligible for an overnight stay if:
Families may be eligible to use the House during the day if:
*Exceptions may be considered based on medical circumstances, transportation barriers, and room availability.
All families who wish to stay with us are required to have a room referral and pass a background check. Referrals can only be made through a social worker at the hospital where the patient is being treated.
Once the referral has been processed and approved, one of our staff members will contact you with instructions on how to complete the online background check.
After the background check results have been processed, a staff member will contact you to discuss room availability. Please note that completing this process does not guarantee you and your family a room.
A place that feels a little more like home.
During your stay, families have access to comfortable guest rooms, shared kitchens, laundry facilities, play areas, family gathering spaces, and other amenities designed to make daily life a little easier.
Most importantly, you’ll find a community of support—staff, volunteers, and other families who understand the challenges that come with caring for a child receiving medical treatment.
Because families should focus on healing, not housing.
Families stay at Ronald McDonald House Ohio Valley at no cost. Thanks to the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners, we provide a safe, comfortable place where families can stay close to their child during medical care.
With a place to rest and everyday comforts close by, families can spend less time worrying about where to stay and more time being together.
We’re here to help.
If your child is receiving medical care and you believe your family may benefit from staying at one of our Houses, we encourage you to speak with your healthcare team about a referral.
Our team is here to answer questions, provide guidance, and help make the process as smooth as possible. Contact us for more information or to speak with a member of our team.
“When everything felt uncertain, Ronald McDonald House gave us one less thing to worry about. We could focus on being there for our child—and that’s what mattered most.”
Speak with the social worker at the hospital where your child is receiving care. They can submit a referral to Ronald McDonald House Ohio Valley. Our team will contact you about the next steps. A referral does not guarantee a room.
No. Once your referral has been processed and approved, a staff member will contact you with instructions for completing the online background check. After the results have been processed, we will contact you to discuss room availability. Completing this process does not guarantee you and your family a room.
Yes. Parents, family members, and custodial parents responsible for the care of a hospitalized child are welcome to stay as guests, and siblings are welcome too. Children under age 18 must be accompanied at all times while in the House. The hospital may have its own restrictions on the ages of visiting siblings, so please check with your child’s care team.
As long as your child is still receiving treatment, there is no set limit on how long your family can stay. Stays can range from one night to several months, and sometimes even a year or more.
Yes. Families may be eligible to use the House during the day if their child is age 21 or younger and receiving treatment at a local medical facility, and they have a referral from their child’s assigned social worker or nurse. Children under age 18 must be accompanied at all times while in the House. See Who Can Stay for full eligibility details.
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