The Masonic Eastern Star Home-East in Warminster and the Masonic Eastern Star Home-West, North of Pittsburgh provide quality skilled nursing and assisted living services. Each home offers personalized care services and amenities to serve residents, including a cozy dining room, barber shop, and beauty salon, a chapel, recreational and fraternal activities, and planned trips.

Both homes have received Medicare certification. However, through negotiations with the PA Department of Welfare, the Masonic Homes only received approval for Medicaid certification for the Masonic Eastern Star Home-East. Therefore, the Masonic Homes began searching for alternate ways to continue to provide cost-effective nursing services for members in the western part of the state.

Negotiations with Valley Care Nursing Home in Sewickley, PA., a quality 128-bed facility located within eight miles of the Masonic Eastern Star Home-West, began this fall. Since Valley Care shares the Masonic Homes' values and mission, the two organizations have been exploring the possibility of continuing to provide assisted living services at the Masonic Eastern Star Home-West, and providing nursing home services for the residents currently residing at the Masonic Eastern Star Home-West, at the Valley Care facility.

With approval from the Grand Lodge, the Masonic Homes began negotiating a purchase agreement with Valley Care Nursing Home to acquire that facility. The Homes hope to finalize the agreement by March 31. Since Valley Care currently serves many of our members, the organization has agreed to abide by the Masonic Homes admissions policy; however, the Homes my opt to continue to serve members of the local community as availability permits.

To determine the direction of possible future growth and expansion of services in Sewickley, the Masonic Homes will conduct a market research study of the local community. Valley Care's 40 acres of land could provide many possibilities for expanding the level of care provided at the facility.

This opportunity would allow the Masonic Homes to meet the goal of providing Medicaid and Medicare services to members in areas conveniently located throughout the Commonwealth.

For more information about the assisted living and/or nursing services provided at these Homes, call: Masonic Eastern Star Home-East: (215) 672-2500 or Masonic Eastern Star Home- West: (412) 931-8300.