Masonic Outreach Services (MOS) is a program of the Masonic Home of Florida, created to address the needs of the fraternal membership who are age of 65 and older. MOS provides the membership access to services and resources they need to stay healthy and safe in their homes or home communities.

Information and referral services: MOS team provides consultation over the phone and links callers to services such at home care, senior housing, public benefits, Medicare and Medicaid resources, veterans benefit counselors, and transportation agencies.

Care management: What a fraternal member faces declining health, isolation, loss of a spouse, or other challenges, MOS can provide ongoing support. Through regular telephone contact, care managers help navigate health and financial matters, and advocate for important services/ benefits.

Financial assistance: MOS offers financial support for eligible Masons age 65+ (or 55+ if permanently disabled) and their spouses and widows. This assistance ensures that elder members can age with dignity and confidence, knowing that all basic needs will be met. Support is need-based, flexible and ongoing.

Call Masonic Outreach at 727-822-3499 or email outreach@masonichomefl.com.

When calling to make a referral for someone other than oneself, it is important to have that person's permission to make the referral. Whenever possible, the person seeking assistance should call on their own or be present during the call so they can be part of the process from the start.

In-depth intake calls can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Masonic Outreach will inquire about finances, health, current housing and living conditions, benefits, and other information that will help to determine eligibility and appropriateness to receive services through MOS.

Applicants must be age 65 or older (age 55 or older if permanently disabled) and Master Masons in good standing for the last five consecutive years (or the spouse or widow of a qualifying Florida Mason).

Applicants must meet financial criteria and demonstrate need, and they must already be receiving or applying for all eligible public benefits including Medicare and Medicaid.

Applicants must not initially require skilled nursing services or 24 hour home care (those requiring this level of care will be assisted with a referral).
Applicants must agree to a care management plan which may include recommendations on budgeting (increasing income and/or decreasing expenses) and applying for benefits. Applicants must sign an Agreement to Repay, which states intent to repay all, or a portion, of the amount expended when they have the financial means to do so. (No eligible applicant will be turned away due to an inability to repay the program.).

All MOS clients receive non-financial care management before applying for financial assistance.

MOS does provide one-time emergency financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Fund program. When emergency financial assistance is required, MOS will refer the caller to request assistance from their lodge(s) first.

The application process takes 30- 90 days, depending on the time it takes the applicant to gather the necessary documentation and the time MOS takes to process and approve the application.

MOS creates a budget that includes the client's income and MOS approved expenses. The amount of assistance received is determined by taking the client's approved expenses and subtracting the total from the client's income. The more financial resources the client can contribute to the budget, the less MOS support they need.

MOS clients who receive financial assistance are required to sign a program agreement that includes a repayment obligation, which stipulates that the financial assistance provided will be repaid when assets are available (including property, life insurances, inheritance, etc). If the client does not have the ability to repay the program, their financial assistance will be forgiven.

MOS financial support will only be extended to cover the client's and/or widow's share of costs and expenses.

All household members are expected to contribute to household expenses and the MOS client's share is determined by dividing household expenses by the number of occupants.

Applicants must provide information regarding all properties and resource, including life insurance policies, investments, bonds, etc, as these assets will need to be assessed prior to receiving financial assistance from MOS.

If a client owns real property and is approved for financial assistance through MOS, a Deed and Trust or Secured Interest will be placed on that property. At the time in which the client sells the property or passes away, the MOS program will be repaid only for funds expended upon their care. Any remaining funds will be used to support their on-going care or returned to their heirs.

The application process takes about 30 - 90 days, depending on the time it takes the applicant to gather the necessary documentation and the time MOS takes to process and approve the application.

Applicants are actively engaged throughout the application process and regularly communicate with Masonic Outreach and MOS.

Much of the Masonic Home and MOS applications overlap. MOS and Masonic Home admission staff will work together to minimize the need to provide duplicate application documentation.
Masonic Home applicants are not placed on the Masonic Home list until their entire Masonic Home application has been received, reviewed and approved by Masonic Home admission committee.

If a client lives within two hours thirty-minute driving distance of Masonic Home of Florida, the campus will be their designated facility, should they desire or require a licensed community to meet their care needs, and provided the Masonic Home is able to do so. This can be determined by Masonic Outreach Services and Masonic Home staff.