The Maison d’Accueil at the Children’s Hospital (HUDERF): a second home for the families of our young patients

When a child is admitted to hospital, the whole family’s life is turned upside down. The days become longer, journeys back and forth multiply, and familiar daily routines disappear. For parents who live far away or whose child faces a prolonged hospital stay, an important question quickly arises: how can they remain close to their child without becoming exhausted themselves?

For more than twenty years, the Maison d’Accueil at the Queen Fabiola University Children’s Hospital (HUDERF) has provided a practical response to this reality. Located just a few metres from the hospital, it enables families to stay close to their child while providing a place where they can rest, share experiences and find support.

Born out of an essential need

Inaugurated in 2001, the Maison d’Accueil was created in response to a simple observation: the presence of parents plays a fundamental role in the well-being and recovery of a hospitalised child. Some families travel dozens or even hundreds of kilometres each day to reach the hospital, while others face hospital stays lasting several weeks or even months.

For many families, finding somewhere to stay nearby represents a considerable financial and practical challenge. The Maison d’Accueil was created to meet this need by providing affordable accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the Children’s Hospital. Since opening, it has welcomed parents and relatives from across Belgium and, at times, from abroad.

Much more than accommodation

The Maison d’Accueil is not a hotel. It is a living space designed for families going through a difficult period. Located on the first floor of the Rotunda building, just above the Robert Dubois School, it now has ten bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. One room is adapted for people with reduced mobility. The Maison d’Accueil also offers a range of shared facilities, including a communal kitchen, dining area, lounge, laundry room and outdoor garden.

Families can stay for one night, a few days or several weeks, depending on the circumstances surrounding their child’s hospitalisation. But what makes the Maison d’Accueil special goes far beyond its facilities. During their stay, families meet, talk and support one another. They share the often difficult experience of having a child in hospital and find invaluable understanding and a listening ear among other parents.

“Every person we welcome has a different story. Our role is to be there for them during this period in their lives and to offer them a place where they can take a breath, speak freely or simply find a little comfort after what can sometimes be a difficult day at the hospital. Volunteers play an essential role in this welcome: through their ability to listen, their availability and their kindness, they share both the lighter moments and the more difficult ones, sometimes without any need for words,” explains Dominique Vanden Broeck, Head of Volunteers.

A project supported by volunteers

The Maison d’Accueil relies on the commitment of around twenty volunteers. They welcome families, provide administrative support, help maintain the shared spaces and assist with everyday practicalities. Their presence contributes greatly to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Maison d’Accueil.

Beyond this practical support, the volunteers help create a caring environment where everyone can take a moment to breathe, talk to others or simply feel less alone.

A renovation designed with families in mind

In 2024, the Maison d’Accueil underwent a major renovation of its kitchen and shared spaces to further improve comfort for families. The project was made possible thanks to the support of several partners and associations, as well as the involvement of volunteers and parents who use the Maison d’Accueil.

The shared spaces were redesigned to encourage interaction, togetherness and a sense of being “at home”. The new kitchen, funded by the non-profit organisation Le Cœur de nos Enfants, now provides families with a welcoming space where they can prepare and share meals.

An essential part of supporting families

With an occupancy rate of almost 100% throughout the year, the Maison d’Accueil meets a major need. The hospital’s social services and the H.U.B.’s international patients unit regularly work with the Maison d’Accueil to support families facing social, financial or geographical difficulties.

The Maison d’Accueil fully reflects the philosophy of the Children’s Hospital: caring not only for the child, but also for those around them. Because when a child is ill, the whole family needs support.

A place that embodies the spirit of the Children’s Hospital

Since HUDERF opened in 1986, children and their families have been at the heart of its approach to care. The Maison d’Accueil extends this philosophy beyond hospital rooms and clinical wards.

It is a reminder that supporting a hospitalised child is not only about providing the best possible medical treatment. It also means enabling parents to remain close to their child, giving them somewhere to take a break and helping them preserve a sense of normality despite the difficult circumstances.

Informations pratiques 

Maison d’Accueil de l’HUDERF 

E-mail : maccueilhuderf [at] gmail [dot] com (maccueilhuderf[at]gmail[dot]com) 

Maison d'accueil | Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola