Resident Guidelines

Resident Guidelines

• Patients must be under 18 years of age.
• A $25.00 fee per night per family is requested. Families will be allowed to stay as long as it is medically required. The eligibility to stay will be reviewed periodically.
• Only approved, registered residents may stay in your room. You must occupy your room every night. If you're going to be gone for more than 24 hours, you must check out. If space is available, you may check in again if necessary.
• You may have visitors. However, to protect the privacy of other families, we ask that your visitors leave by 9:00 PM. Our free parking area is available for you. Fire safety regulations allow only four people per room.
• The Ronald McDonald House Management reserves the right to inspect rooms at their discretion for compliance with House rules.
• Smoke detectors are located in each bedroom and are inspected on a quarterly basis.
• Patient's siblings are welcome, of course, but please remember, it is your responsibility to ensure that your children do not disturb other residents-particularly after 9:00 PM. If your child becomes disruptive, please restrict the child to your room.
• Children must be supervised at all times. Playroom hours are 9:00 AM-9:00 PM. We ask that you observe these hours since there are bedrooms located adjacent to the playroom. Please straighten up the playroom after your child.
• THIS IS A SMOKE-FREE FACILITY! Smoking is absolutely forbidden anywhere inside the House. Smoking is permitted in the backyard patio area and other designated areas outside the building.
• No alcohol, illegal drugs or weapons are permitted. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in a demand for your immediate departure.
• The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island's staff and volunteers cannot provide any medical or medically-related services of any kind. While you are fully responsible for both non-emergency and emergency situations, the House will assist you. A “Release and Discharged from Liability” form is included in the resident package and must be signed before admittance to the House.

Communications

• The telephone in your room can be used to call 911, 1-800, the office (extension 130), the Resident Manager (extension 137; after 9:00 PM use extension 134 or knock on the Manager’s door – on weekends, please dial extension 158 or knock on the Weekend Manager’s door) and the hospital (dial 88 before 470-the ext.). There is a pay phone on the second floor of the original building. Cell phones can be used in the House as well.
• Please advise your doctor, nurses, family and friends of your room number so they will be able to reach you after office hours as your room number is also your telephone extension.
• Calling cards are available for your convenience on a limited basis. Please speak to the Resident Manager for details.
• While you are out of the House, our volunteers will gladly take messages for you or will forward calls if necessary. Volunteers will page you, if needed, while you are in the House.

Kitchen

• The general food supply is for your use. Coffee and tea are always available (with a limited supply of milk) for you to enjoy. Please help replenish when needed. Thanks to the generosity of Coke Cola, a vending machine is located by the coffee area offering other beverages at a reduced price. Consume food and beverages in the dining area only. This will help us keep general areas clean and will help with insect control. Please remember - No food is to be taken to your bedroom.
• You will be assigned cabinet space and a refrigerator shelf. The freezer is for general use. Please mark all the food that you buy with your name and your room number. Labels and markers are in the kitchen for your use.
• Please rinse and scrape your dishes and utensils and put them in the dishwasher. Please run the dishwasher when it is full, using only dishwasher detergent powder.
• Your consideration for other residents using the kitchen, dining and pantry facilities is deeply appreciated. Please leave these areas in the condition that you would like to find them. Do not leave dishes or pots and pans in the sink. Keep refrigerators clean and orderly. The kitchen area is available for your use 24 hours. When staff washes and waxes the floor, please work around them. Absolutely no food preparation will be allowed in the bedrooms at any time.

Laundry and cleaning supplies

• Laundry rooms with washers and dryers are located on the first and second floors of the original building and in the tower as well. We will provide you with laundry detergent so that you may clean your clothes, bed linens and towels during your stay.
• In an effort to keep our House comfortable, we ask you to help by keeping your room and bathroom clean. The House does not have a cleaning service. Please help us by keeping the general areas tidy.
• Cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, and a vacuum cleaner can be obtained at the office.
• Let’s keep our handmade quilts beautiful. They were donated by the Long Island Quilting Association and we area very proud to display them. Before using the bed, please remove and hang them on the quilt rack in your room.

With your help we can keep our costs down and maintain the beauty of our “home-away-from-home”.

• toothpaste and toothbrushes
• soap; shampoo/conditioner
• hairdryer
• diapers; baby wipes
• Pak-n- Play (available on request at Check-In)
• car seats

Safety & Security

• Rooms should be kept locked at all times. PLEASE DO NOT LET STRANGERS INTO THE HOUSE. Be sure to discuss this with your children. Additional security precautions are included in your resident packet.
• FIRE SAFETY
  • Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the fire exits and rules located on the back of your bedroom door. Also note the location of the fire alarm box nearest your room.
  • If there's a fire in your room - Leave the room immediately. Close the door. Pull the nearest fire alarm located in the hall. Proceed to evacuate through the main entrance to the building.
  • If you hear an alarm - Remain in your room. Call the main desk (extension 130). You'll be advised.
  • Do not leave the room if the door is hot or if heavy smoke is in the hall.
  • If directed to evacuate the House - Proceed to the nearest smoke-free stairway and exit the House. Please remain in the front yard where the House staff can account for all residents.
  • Do not use the elevator in case of a fire.
• Power Failure - In case of power failure, a flashlight is located in your room closet. NEVER use candles.
• Medical Waste - Must be placed in a red plastic bag (available at the office) and brought to the hospital’s Hazard Waste Disposal Area; please ask at the hospital for its location. All syringes and needles must be broken and placed in cardboard boxes. Please dispose of diapers, ostomy bags, sanitary napkins and tampons in plastic garbage bags which are available in the pantry closet. Do not flush them down the toilet.
• A detailed description of infection control instructions is included with your resident kits.
• Residents & Children with Infections, Colds, Coughs, etc. Children receiving treatment are very susceptible to infectious illnesses; for this reason we ask that you follow the rules if you are not well.
  • Residents and their children who have a cold or other infection may be asked to stay in their rooms or to stay away from other children and residents.
  • Children with infections of any kind may not use the playroom.
  • Children and adults who have been exposed to chicken pox, mumps, etc. should use extreme caution so as not to infect other residents in the House.
  • Please wash your hands before and after using common areas (kitchen, bathroom, playroom, elevator, etc.) This is ALWAYS the best defense against the spread of germs.

Checking out

• Please fold all dirty linens and towels, put them in the laundry basket and leave in the room.
• Zippered pillow covers, quilted mattress pads remain on the bed.
• Fold comforters and leave on the bottom of the bed.
• Clean bathroom sink, toilet, floor, and tubs thoroughly. Cleaning supplies and a sponge mop are kept in the office.
• Vacuum and dust entire room thoroughly.
• Empty all trash baskets and replace plastic bags. Bags can be found in the kitchen pantry.
• Check drawers and closets for all personal belongings.
• Remove food from your refrigerator and freezer shelves and kitchen cabinets. If you are not taking these items, please mark them for general use and alert our staff.
• Return all Ronald McDonald House items
  • books and toys to the library or toy room
  • cribs, strollers, umbrellas, video tapes etc. to the office.
• Return anything borrowed from the hospital directly to them.
• Return all keys when completing your check out in the office.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.