A Cut Above
BETH WALSH, LAURA HEVENER, BARBARA OSBORNE AND PAM FREYERMUTH have been beautifying the residents at Masonic Villages for a combined nearly 70 years. “I like the atmosphere, and Beth is really good and patient,” said Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill resident Jean C. Frishmuth, who visits Beth Walsh at the full-service salon once a week to get a blow dry or a haircut. “Everyone who leaves looks wonderful. If you look better, you feel better.” Resident Catherine Wentz agreed. “It makes you feel attractive, but it also gives you time to relax and socialize with others,” she said. Beth has worked full-time at the salon for 32 years, both in personal care and retirement living. The retirement living salon’s only stylist, her schedule fills up quickly, and she keeps her appointments in a large date book on her desk. The residents enjoy visiting the salon, whether it be for the social aspect, to get dolled up before a family visit or to just leave feeling more confident than when they arrived. “There are a lot of women who come here every week,” Beth said, estimating she has about 20 appointments per day.
“They are used to going to the beauty parlor every week when they were growing up.” Beth attended Ambler Beauty Academy many years ago to learn her trade. Through word of mouth, she heard about the job at Masonic Village and seized the opportunity. “I was part-time at first because I was raising children and wanted to be home with them,” she said, “but then the hours and clients kept increasing.” She said she stays at Masonic Village because she enjoys working with the senior population. “They are very knowledgeable, and they tell a lot of stories,” she said. “You need to have a lot of patience and most importantly, you need to care. This is someone’s grandmother or mother. They need to be taken care of.” Laura Hevener, a stylist at Oasis Salon and Spa at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, estimates she sees between 10 and 14 clients per day. To accommodate the growing demand, there are two salons located in retirement living and one in the Masonic Health Care Center. Laura works in retirement living alongside another full-time stylist, her manager, and another woman who comes in on Thursdays to do facials, manicures and pedicures. A barber is starting soon to assist with the male clients.
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Winter 2020 Issue
