Masonicare Prepares For More Growth After Umh Merger

Nonprofit senior living provider Masonicare is gearing up for more growth following the organization’s merger with United Methodist Homes.

Wallingford, Connecticut-based Masonicare announced plans to acquire United Methodist Homes in 2024, with the merger being completed in 2025. A year on, Masonicare has focused on integrating staff, systems and procedures between both organizations. UMH CEO David Lawlor joined Masonicare as the organization’s chief investment officer and serves as the president of Masonicare’s consulting and management services division.

The merger took place to modernize Masonicare and prepare the system for the next generation of senior living customers, according to CEO Jon-Paul Venoit. The merger also expanded clinical and programming services for Masonicare, along with adding home care and hospice offerings.

“The merger was another way in which we could stay sustainable and adapt because if there’s a downturn, you have to be able to weather that storm,” Venoit said. “The smaller you are, you can’t do that and we’re at the point where we have the ability to adapt and change.”

In regard to the merger’s progress, which was finalized last year, Venoit said the now-larger organization had completed three-fourths of the tasks required as part of the transformation.

Masonicare installed its electronic medical record (EHR) system, finance platform, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems, while keeping staff across both organizations and growing the company’s leadership development program. The leadership development program fits into a formal succession plan that the organization has in place for leaders across its portfolio of senior living communities and external services.

“Each June, we go through our employees and we see potential to develop career ladders for them to work through our system,” Venoit said.

This staffing pipeline has helped Masonicare leaders quickly learn the organization’s culture and operations, Venoit said.

For example, at its Green Ridge Place community, Masonicare tapped an emerging leader from its talent pool to serve as executive director—accelerating adoption of Masonicare standards and improving operating performance faster than an outside hire, Venoit noted.

In the last year, Masonicare has also focused on improving staffing conditions, expanding the company’s recruiting department, and reducing agency staffing by 30%. Further plans include expanding programming and potential future growth for the organization.

Just what that growth could look like remains to be seen, but Venoit said acquisitions and scaling the organization’s third-party management and consulting business are options on the table for 2026 and beyond. The organization recently acquired a 108-unit assisted living community in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Today, Masonicare manages 15 communities within its third-party management portfolio, with the expectation to roughly double in size in the coming years with consulting operations ongoing in 39 states, Venoit said—something that was “blowing up in a good way,” given the demand for seasoned senior living providers offering consulting services.

“We’ve seen an uptick in taking on new accounts,” Venoit said.

The organization is seeking out future acquisitions in southern New England, along with potential growth in South Carolina and Florida, Venoit said.

Internally, Venoit said Masonicare has updated programming in memory care to be more aligned with goals to improve “healthspan and longevity,” while helping residents “live better, longer.”

Masonicare is also deliberately shifting its revenue mix by analyzing the balance between less favorable government reimbursement and more sustainable private-pay revenue streams.

Going forward, Venoit said he views Masonicare’s offering as home and community-based services, healthcare services, and residential living services.

“It’s a good foundation platform to now continue the growth of other things that we’re looking to do in the future,” Venoit said.

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