Kerry Schulman
Submitted photo
By Kerry Schulman | Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona
It wasn’t a coincidence that the first Ronald McDonald House in Phoenix opened during National Family Wellness Month in May 1985 to provide essential wellness services and housing when children needed medical intervention at Valley hospitals.
Today, Family Wellness Month is recognized on a broad scale, as organizations from schools to businesses to health care institutions promote physical, emotional and social well-being within families.
More than ever, family wellness remains the bedrock of our commitment at Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central and Northern Arizona to support families that are often going through the most challenging time of their lives.
A child’s illness affects family wellness
When a child is hospitalized for a serious illness or injury, the entire family feels the impact. Parents juggle fear and exhaustion. Siblings experience confusion and disruption. Everyone faces uncertainty.
Research published in the Journal of Nursing and Care reveals that critically ill children are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, experience less anxiety and recover more quickly when their families are involved. Prioritizing the health and well-being of the entire family is critical to the recovery of a sick or injured child.
That’s why we provide more than a place to sleep at no cost. We provide meals, emotional support, a sense of community and — most importantly — the ability for families to stay together.
Other studies confirm that proximity matters. One study of families found that parents believed their closeness directly improved their child’s recovery, with many families reporting that being nearby shortened hospital stays.
In contrast, the ripple effects of parental stress go far beyond the hospital. Studies show that sleep deprivation, financial pressure and emotional strain can lead to long-term challenges and hardships for families.
Over the past 40 years, RMHCCNAZ has provided more than 62,000 stays for families in crisis, with each stay ranging from a single night’s accommodation to months of continuous lodging.
In 2024 alone, 1,139 families found comfort and relief at one of our three locations. These families — who traveled to the Phoenix area from all 15 Arizona counties and 28 different states — stayed a total of 15,450 nights, enabling them to remain close to their hospitalized children.
For Diana Beagley, whose infant son needed complex medical care, staying together as a family meant everything. “As much as my son needs me, my daughters need me too,” she said. “Being together as a family is something you take for granted until you’re separated by a medical issue.”
Three ways to promote family wellness
Whether your family is facing a medical issue with a child or not, I’d like to share a few practical tips for promoting family wellness that we’ve learned along the way:
- Take care of yourself. While staying hydrated, eating healthy meals and getting enough rest may sound simple, these basic acts of self-care can often be overlooked when a parent is focused on caring for a child.
- Recharge mentally. Even 15-minute breaks to take a short walk outside or detach from phones and screens can clear your mind and make a big difference in a parent’s energy level.
- Find peer support. Join an online community for parents or take time to meet and chat with other parents to ease feelings of isolation.
Being mindful of your own well-being, having strong family connections and developing a support network make it easier to handle any crisis.
As we recognize Family Wellness Month, let’s celebrate and nurture the wellness of your own, and every family. Spend quality time together. Volunteer to prepare a meal. Make a donation or lend your support to any organization that helps keep families together — especially during difficult times.
Editor’s note: Kerry Schulman is CEO of Phoenix-based Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
