hostsforhospitals.org/becoming-a-guest/
Traveling to Philadelphia for medical care used to bring with it worry about accommodations during your stay. Not anymore—thanks to the in-home hospitality of Hosts for Hospitals (HfH).
Rates: $20 per night per patient-family.
No restrictions with respect to family size or length of stay. All homes have been visited and approved by HfH staff to ensure guest safety and comfort.
Description of a Host Home
Host homes range from apartments to brownstones to single-family homes. In addition to welcoming guests for a comfortable stay, hosts serve as a local resource, providing directions to the hospital, grocery stores and the nearest public transportation. Hosts for Hospitals screens each host and conducts an on-site inspection of the host's home before they begin volunteering with the program.
Meals and transportation are the responsibility of the guests; however, many hosts help out in these areas, such as offering use of their kitchen, at least for light meals. Hosts will explain whatever additional services they wish to provide when you first speak by phone.
Availability
With more than 200 hosts, HfH has a highly successful placement rate. Same-day placement is often possible, though ideally guests should apply with as much lead time as possible.
Eligibility Requirements
- Guests must live far enough from the hospital that commuting is difficult;
- Have a permanent home to return to;
- Be an important support person for a patient receiving medical care in the Philadelphia area;
- Be unlikely to put the host family at risk in any manner.
Information for Patients
- Hosts for Hospitals strongly recommends that patients who stay as guests bring a support person to accompany them. Patients traveling alone must be able to care for themselves independently.
- Potential guests must submit an application and a reference, usually from a physician or other healthcare provider. Hosts for Hospitals carefully reviews all potential guests and matches them with a host home that best meets their needs.
Reservations
To stay with a volunteer host, contact Hosts for Hospitals at 484-380-2999 or by e-mail.
HOSTS for HOSPITALS (HfH) is a nonprofit agency which since July 2000 has been providing patients and/or family members and support persons lodging at volunteer host-homes near Fox Chase Cancer Center and other Philadelphia-area medical institutions.
Office address:
Hosts for Hospitals
326 Conshohocken State Road #2
Gladwyne, PA 19035
hostsforhospitals.org
Contact information:
Office: 484-380-2999
[email protected]
To apply online: www.hostsforhospitals.org/becoming-a-guest/