Assisted Living in Oklahoma

Assisted living communities in Oklahoma provide housing, meals, and personal care for older adults who need help with daily activities while maintaining their independence. The average monthly cost of assisted living in Oklahoma is $4,563, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. From Oklahoma City to Tulsa to smaller towns like Beaver, families will find a range of assisted living options across the state, often at a lower cost of living than many other parts of the country.

In Oklahoma, the average monthly starting cost of assisted living is around $4,563, which is $54,756 per year, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This amount is slightly lower than the national average monthly cost of assisted living ($4,752) and includes room and board at our partner communities. Other factors can affect the total cost of assisted living include:

• Location
• Apartment size and layout
• Services and amenities

Compared with the cost of living in neighboring states, the cost in Oklahoma is in the middle of the range. Communities in Kansas and Texas usually cost more, while those in Arkansas and Missouri offer some savings. Costs vary throughout the state as well. In general, rates in urban communities such as Tulsa and Oklahoma City are generally higher than the state’s average cost. Look for more suburban communities in places such as Broken Arrow and Edmund to find savings while staying close to city amenities.

Cost is an important consideration when choosing senior living but finding the right level of care for your loved one matters most. For seniors who need specialized memory care, communities that provide these services are comparable to the cost of assisted living.

Read more:Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences

In Oklahoma, most families use a combination of private funds and public programs to cover the costs associated with assisted living. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. For an in-depth look at different payment options, visit our complete guide to paying for long-term care.

Private pay options

Private pay is the most common way that families in Oklahoma pay for assisted living. Personal savings, income from retirement and investment accounts, and Social Security benefits are some private pay options. Other sources of private funds include the proceeds from the sale of a home and long-term care insurance.

VA benefits

If your loved one is a veteran or a surviving spouse, they may be eligible for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which can offset some assisted living costs. Navigating the process of applying for VA benefits can be complex and time-consuming, so we recommend seeking help from an accredited benefits counselor.

Oklahoma’s Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits counseling with county-based veteran service representatives. Call 888-655-2838 to schedule an appointment or find a local representative.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint program of the federal and state governments and is designed to support people who have low incomes and certain conditions and disabilities. In Oklahoma, the Medicaid program is also known SoonerCare and won’t cover room and board in assisted living, but can be used to pay for:^[02]

• Doctor’s visits
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Medical supplies
• Prescriptions

Oklahoma seniors who qualify for the state’s Aged, Blind, or Disabled entitlement program may be eligible for help with personal care services, nutrition counseling, some transportation, and more.^[03]

SoonerCare also offers a home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program, which may expand what Medicaid pays for to cover costs associated with assisted living. The ADvantage Waiver supports elderly or disabled adults who need a nursing facility level of care and who don’t have a diagnosed intellectual disability or cognitive impairment. Covered services include personal care services, care management, personal emergency response systems, and more.^[04]

To learn more about SoonerCare and how it might help offset some costs that your loved one may incur while in an assisted living community, contact the SoonerCare Helpline at 800-987-7767.

Medicare

As a federal health insurance program, Medicare covers specific health care costs for eligible older adults. While Medicare won’t cover room and board costs for assisted living in Oklahoma, it can be used to cover medically necessary expenses, which can help offset the cost of assisted living for seniors and their families.^[05]

To access Medicare benefit counseling, Oklahomans can reach out to the Oklahoma Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program (SHIP). This program offers one-on-one assistance, counseling, and education to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to help them make informed decisions about their care and benefits. You can reach the SHIP office at 800-763-2828.

In Oklahoma, the Department of Health, Protective Health Services, Long Term Care Services Division provides licensure and oversight for residential care communities. There are two types of licenses:

• Residential care homes provide personal care assistance. Residents must be able to walk and manage their own evacuation and personal affairs and mustn’t need regular skilled nursing care.
• Assisted living centers provide personal care assistance and are also licensed to provide unscheduled nursing care, medication assistance, and help with activities of daily living (ADLs).

Residential care homes must be inspected at least three times per year, while assisted living centers are inspected at least every 15 months. These and other regulations are designed to ensure residents receive safe, cost-effective care by establishing standards for facility operation, staff training, and resident care.

How to check license status and inspection reports for Oklahoma assisted living facilities

Use the Oklahoma Department of Health’s Long Term Care Provider Survey/Inspection Search tool to understand a community’s license status and recent survey results.

Why do licensure and inspection reports matter to families?

State regulations — and a community’s track record with inspections and licensing — offer important insights into safety and quality of care in senior living communities.

Download the Guide to Senior Living Licensure and Inspection Reports to learn what to look for in inspection reports and what questions to ask when touring communities. This resource explains how to use state licensure and inspection information to evaluate a community’s compliance, care standards, and responsiveness to issues.