Frequently Asked Questions

Our organization was founded by the Masonic Fraternity in the late 1800s. Our work is still rooted in Masonic Values, such as honesty, friendship, and compassion, but you don’t have to be a Mason to be a resident of one of our communities. During the application process, we’ll ask about any Masonic affiliations, but we don’t use that information to decide if you’re eligible to live here.

We know furry friends are part of the family, and we love welcoming them into our communities! Our general rule of thumb for independent living and assisted living residents is that they must be able to care for the pet themselves or have someone who helps, such as a dog walker. Memory care and skilled nursing care residents are not allowed to have pets, but furry friends do visit from time to time.

Your villa or apartment should feel like home. When you or your loved ones move to independent living, assisted living, or memory care, we want you to bring your own furniture, decorations, and whatever else makes home feel like home for you. In long-term care and short-term rehabilitation, we provide the furniture, including a bed and chair. However, you can still bring non-furniture items that will make the private suite feel more like home.

Each of our communities offers multiple levels of care. The amount of care and assistance we offer adjusts as you or your loved ones’ needs do. We strive to offer the perfect balance of independence and autonomy, with support and care tailored to your unique needs.

Every community handles pricing a little differently. Generally, it ranges anywhere from completely a la carte to all-inclusive. Even within one senior living community, the pricing structure may be different from one care level to the next. At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we want to be transparent with everyone about how we structure our pricing.

Request your personalized price guide:
Browning Masonic Community
Springfield Masonic Community
Western Reserve Masonic Community

Independent Living Pricing

Pricing for independent living is often the most straightforward. Since there is no care involved, the price is just a monthly rent fee. Depending on which floorplan you choose and which community you are at, there may be extra charges for things like meals, cleaning, parking, or storage. These will always be discussed in advance, before you move in, so you know exactly what to expect on your bill.

Assisted Living and Memory Care Pricing

Some communities, like The Ohio Masonic Communities, use a tier-based pricing system for assisted living and memory care. Our tiers are determined by how much support or assistance someone may need each day. The fees are then determined by the tier that’s needed and the floorplan that is chosen. Our prices include everything, such as a private apartment, meals, cleaning, activities, utilities, and more.

Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehab

Skilled nursing care, including long-term care and short-term rehab, is almost always paid for by insurance. Because of that, prices are daily rates instead of monthly rent or fees. Our daily rate is the amount that must be paid per day if insurance does not cover it. At The Ohio Masonic Communities, this includes a private suite and an ensuite bathroom, meals, housekeeping, and activities. Physical, occupational, and speech therapies, as well as a hair salon, are also available for an additional price.

Many communities require large, upfront payments known as entrance fees. At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we never require entrance fees. Some of our residents choose to pay a large sum upfront to reduce their monthly rent. But that is never required and is handled on a case-by-case basis for those who are interested.

No matter which of our communities you choose, we know you’ll love living there. We also understand that life happens and sometimes things change. We want you to have the freedom and flexibility to do what’s best for you and your family, so we just require 30-day notice if you need to move.

Our application process is how we get to know you or your loved ones. It gives us a chance to understand your needs and the support you will need both now and in the future. As part of our application, we’ll ask for information about who you are, your financial resources, and which care option and floorplan you are interested in. Unless you are moving to independent living, we’ll also complete an assessment to get a sense of the type of daily care and support you’ll need.

Schedule a tour of one of our communities:
Browning Masonic Community
Springfield Masonic Community
Western Reserve Masonic Community

Insurance does not cover independent living, assisted living, or memory care. However, insurance can cover long-term care and short-term rehabilitation. Specific requirements must be met for each, based on medical conditions, care needs, hospitalizations, and specific insurance policy qualifications. Each insurance policy is different, and each community can accept different types of insurance. If you have questions about your coverage, you can talk to your insurance company or contact us. We’re happy to help guide you through the insurance eligibility process.

Just because you need some help or are having a harder time living completely independently doesn’t mean you have to be ready to move to a senior living community. For some people, moving to a community is the best option because of the extra benefits it offers. Others want to do everything they can to stay in their homes for as long as possible. The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center connects seniors with resources for their financial, social, and clinical needs. If you’re looking for help to make living at home safer or easier for you or a loved one, reach out to The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center.

Until the late 1900s, all residential-based care for seniors was referred to as a nursing home. When the term was first coined, it made sense – they were homes where seniors were receiving nursing care. A lot has evolved since then. Now, senior living is used to describe vibrant communities where older adults can live life on their terms and thrive, while receiving care if they need it. Today, “nursing home” tends to be an outdated term, but it’s frequently used interchangeably with senior living community.

Every senior living community’s primary goal should be to serve its residents to the best of its ability. In a for-profit community, there is also motivation to make money so the business can pay its board and shareholders. A not-for-profit community has a volunteer board and doesn’t have shareholders to pay. These communities are likely more mission-driven and frequently have foundations that help financially support the organization’s work towards its mission. One isn’t better than the other, but it is a helpful piece of information to know when comparing communities. The Ohio Masonic Communities is proud to be a nonprofit, committed to the mission of helping communities thrive.

Not every senior living or retirement community offers the same types of care or living options. A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) is a community that offers the full continuum of care: independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term care, and short-term rehab. These rare communities offer residents and their loved ones additional peace of mind, knowing that more care will always be available if it’s needed in the future. Both Springfield Masonic Community and Western Reserve Masonic Community are CCRCs.

Independent living is all about independence. It offers a maintenance-free and worry-free way of life, so residents can spend more time doing the things they love. Community life is full of benefits, such as increased socialization.

Assisted living offers some assistance with activities of daily living, while preserving as much independence and autonomy as possible. These could include showering or bathing, getting dressed, using the bathroom, and managing medications. Beyond basic daily support, assisted living offers socialization, meals, cleaning, and peace of mind that staff are available 24/7.

Memory care is most often a type of assisted living that offers the same level of care and assistance. However, memory care is tailored to support those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. It’s often a secure area, with programming designed to offer the best support for someone with dementia.

Skilled nursing, also called long-term care, is what most people think of when they think of a nursing home. It offers extra support and care that can’t be offered in assisted living. While daily care can be more clinical, it’s still home-like and provides the same benefits as other types of care, such as more opportunities for socialization.

Short-term rehab exists to offer a bridge between a hospital stay and returning home, often after joint replacements, serious illnesses, or medical episodes. It offers extra support to help you get back on your feet before you go back to your regular day-to-day life.