Question:
What is an Admissions Counselor?

Answer:
A person who is instrumental in helping people to apply to one of our Masonic Homes.

Admissions Counselors are Freemasons or members of the Order of the Eastern Star located throughout Pennsylvania and Florida who are specially trained to visit prospective applicants considering a move to the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown, the Masonic Village at Sewickley or the Masonic Eastern Star Home-East at Warminster. Assistance is available to those applicants interested in moving into the health care, assisted living or residential living areas.

Applying to the Masonic Homes is relatively easy, especially with the assistance of the counselors. Masons should contact their Lodge Secretary, while Eastern Star members should contact their Chapter Secretary, and ask that a letter be sent to the Admissions Office at the appropriate location. The letter should state the applicant's name, address and phone number, confirm the date he or she entered the Lodge or Chapter and verify that the applicant is in good standing. Additional information, such as a contact person and the living area in which the person is interested, would also be helpful. When that letter or a Masonic Request Form is received by the Admissions and Resident Services Department, a call will be made to the applicant to verify interest.

At the time the letter or request is confirmed, the need for an admission counselor is discussed. If assessed that a counselor is needed or desired, one will be assigned from the area of the applicant's residence. The assigned Admissions Counselor and the applicant or designated contact person work together to compile the needed information for completing of the application. The counselor then sends the completed application and required information to the Admissions Department to be submitted for approval. Upon approval, the staff will work with the applicant to find "just the right fit" for the that person.

Going through the application process and meeting with a counselor usually indicates a person has made a decision to move to the Masonic Homes. However, there are many members who are not sure about what is offered or the criteria to become a resident. Contact the Admissions and Resident Services Department at 1 (800)-422-1207 or via e-mail at <admissions@masonichomespa.org> for staff assistance in answering questions or to request an informational brochure.