Our History

We identified a huge need to help patient-families in Greater Philadelphia in 2000
& we continue our dedication.

A Partnership through Experience

One evening in 1988, Michael Aichenbaum returned home from work utterly and totally fatigued.
He stared for a long time at his two sons, 2-1/2 year-old David and 8 month old Josh.
In resignation and defeat, Michael finally mumbled to his wife Ruth:
“The older one is David… I can’t remember the other one’s name.”
The next day Michael was diagnosed with an advanced case of leukemia – he was 33 years old.

Doctors told the Aichenbaums that two courses of chemotherapy could be given to Michael—
if the disease was not brought into remission, there would be nothing else which could be done for him.
The courses of chemotherapy failed.
Michael was then transferred his hospital in Michigan to Sloan-Kettering Memorial in Manhattan.

Ruth along with Michael’s mother Lil went with Michael to provide support.
By necessity the two boys were with them as well.
Lodging was found at an apartment across the street from the hospital.

Michael was a patient at Sloan-Ketttering from New Year’s Day through mid-June.
The new chemotherapy he received brought the disease into remission,
and thereafter Michael successfully received a bone-marrow transplant, his brother being his donor.
Throughout this period his family lived in the apartment across from the hospital,
at an eventual cost totaling over $45,000 in today’s dollars.

After Michael’s recovery the Aichenbaums moved to Philadelphia. Almost a decade later Michael
learned about the Boston based Hospitality Program, a nonprofit organization which since 1983 has been
providing zero or low-cost lodging for hospital families through a network of volunteer-Host homes.

In 1999 Michael met Nancy Wimmer, who herself in 1988 had traveled out-of-state
to undergo a bone-marrow transplant as treatment for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Nancy’s family had to bear a numbing expense for lodging as well.
When Michael told Nancy that he was thinking of establishing a volunteer-Host home program
to service hospitals in the Greater Philadelphia area, she urged him to do so.
Together, in March 2000 they established HOSTS for HOSPITALS.

Community Groups

Introducing via any group forum the opportunity to become part of our helping patient-families.

Outreach Throughout the Community About Our Program

Think about how many book clubs, music venues, school programs, community fairs, speakers series, holiday gatherings, organization and neighborhood association meetings which you, your family & friends take part. Each of these types of venues are wonderful opportunities to let people know how through they may help relieve the stress, anxiety and financial burdens of patient-families traveling to Greater Philadelphia for medical care.

Outreach Spotlight

Each year we have exhibitors space at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. At the October 2019 conference over 40 people signed up, together having affiliations with 22 organizations. One was the Philly Charities which subsequently gave us a $15,000 grant. Five people are becoming Hosts, and "Lunch and Learn" meetings are already scheduled with associates at a number of the companies.

“When I’m hosting I get to be the type of person I want to be.” - Long-time Ardmore Host Bill Wilkinsky

How you may help build an inclusive community

Arrange with us to present to community groups with which you have a connection.
Arrange for our information table at community group venues.
Arrange for information about HOSTS for HOSPITALS to be listed on community group websites.
Nominate individuals from community groups to our Board of Directors.

No community gathering is too small, for just one new host will make a world of difference to the patient-families whom they Help. As a first step, please call 484-380-2999 or send us a message below.

Medical Partners

Collaborating so patient-families may know of the option of lodging at a Host-home.

Proactive Patient-Patient-Family Support Program

To save patient-families great expense and needless anxiety about where they will be staying,
we work with medical department staff to make the Host-home lodging option
effectively known to patient-families
as close in time as possible to when a medical trip has been arranged.

Best Referral Practice When you or your colleagues know of a patient-family that may benefit from being able to stay at a host-home, we recommend that you tell the family these three things: 1) That you know of a program that may have a wonderful lodging option for them. 2) That if they wish, you will have someone from our program contact them. 3) They will be under no obligation to accept lodging if offered. With the family’s permission you may then call/email us with the contact information for the family. From experiences over many years, we know that merely giving out our phone number is not effective, as families often are too overwhelmed by the medical situation to give timely attention to their lodging.

Referral Spotlight:

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Fetal Diagnosis & Treatment Team

Over the last three years, social workers Liz Morris, Jessica Hertzog and their associates have referred 114 of their patient-families to HOSTS for HOSPITALS!

The advantages of Host-home lodging: • We accept families of patients of all ages • We allow families to make advance reservations • We do not have a distance requirement, (e.g., that the patient lives at least 75 miles away) • We accept families associated with all types of illness, (e.g., cancer or transplant) • There are no restrictions on patient-family size or length of stay • Families will not lose their “spot” at a Host-home if they need to leave for a few days

Additional support for hospital staff. • Printed brochures are available upon your request. • In-service presentations may be arranged at your convenience • We are happy to have our information table at any patient-attended functions or conferences • Our guest-application is available in English, Spanish and Mandarin versions here. We strive to make interacting with our program as easy as possible, as we are deeply appreciate of your time and dedication In making the difference which you do.

History