Assisted Living in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s low cost of living and affordable healthcare is enticing enough that thousands of seniors decide to make Oklahoma their home. Oklahoma has an ever-growing elderly population, many of whom live on fixed, limited incomes and need assistance in finding and paying for quality assisted living communities.

Directory of Assisted Living Facilities in Oklahoma

When starting the search to find a quality assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to determine what amenities are most important, what the specific care needs are, and how you will pay for the care. The directory below gives details and in-depth information on over 150 facilities in the state of Oklahoma.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Oklahoma

Determining how to finance assisted living often starts with the question, “What’s the cost?” In today’s economy, where inflation plays a significant role, having current data is crucial for senior living financial planning. AssistedLiving.org has gathered cost information from its expansive network of over 75,000 senior living providers. This data offers a glimpse into the average expenses for assisted living in Oklahoma and 15 additional cities within Oklahoma.

How Inflation Has Impacted the Cost of Assisted Living in Oklahoma

Over the last two years, the cost of senior living in Oklahoma has been impacted by inflation. Average fees increased by 19.5% between 2022 and 2023 and are projected to rise another six percent by 2024. This is a much larger increase than the U.S. average of 10%.

Overall, Oklahoma’s average assisted living fees remain lower than those in neighboring Colorado ($4,630), Kansas ($4,834) and New Mexico ($4,185). However, they’re higher than in nearby Texas, where fees are expected to be just $3,481 per month in 2024. These rising prices highlight the importance of planning financially for senior care.

Assisted Living Costs in Oklahoma's Top Cities

Fees for assisted living in Oklahoma vary across the state. Some of the most affordable communities are in Durant, where seniors pay an average of just $3,200 per month. In Stillwater and Mustang, seniors typically pay less than the state average, with fees of $3,450 and $3,543, respectively. However, assisted living communities in Norman are some of the most costly in the state, charging around $4,971 per month.

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Living

In addition to costs, it’s also helpful to consider the level of care provided by different types of senior living facilities. Mobile and independent seniors may find independent living to be a more suitable and affordable option, costing around $2,370 per month compared to assisted living at $3,789 monthly. In contrast, memory care communities typically charge $4,168 per month but provide a higher level of supervision and care for seniors coping with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Oklahoma

Oklahoma ADvantage Program

The Oklahoma ADvantage Program is the division of Oklahoma’s Medicaid (also known as SoonerCare) that services frail elderly and physically disabled applicants. It supports various forms of long-term care services, such as case management, personal care services, help getting specialized medical equipment, prescription drugs, skilled nursing care, and home-delivered meals.

There is also an ADvantage Assisted Living Service Option for residents who reside in or plan to move into an assisted living facility that is Medicaid approved.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants need to qualify for Oklahoma’s Medicaid and meet certain income, asset limits and functionality requirements. If you’re 65 or older and will be the only one in your home, the qualifications for Medicaid include:

• Must have a disability determination from the Social Security Administration
• Be a legal U.S. resident who lives in Oklahoma
• Annual income must not exceed $2,250, and your assets must be $2,000 or less

How to Apply

To get more details about eligibility requirements and start an application, contact your local Department of Human Services office. You can also call (918) 933-4900 or (800) 435-4711.

More Ways to Finance Assisted Living

Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits: Veterans can take advantage of several different pension programs to help cover the cost of assisted living. For more information, see the article on benefits.va.gov.

• Life Insurance Policies: Even if a spouse or loved one hasn’t died, certain types of life insurance policies can be used to pay for assisted living. More information is available at longtermcare.acl.gov

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance policy that pays for long-term care when it becomes necessary, including the cost of assisted living. For more information on the benefits and drawbacks of this financing method, visit longtermcare.acl.gov.

• Reverse Mortgages: Reverse mortgages allow seniors to access the equity from a home that they own, and these funds can be used to pay for assisted living. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a federally insured reverse mortgage program.

Free and Low-Cost Resources for Seniors in Oklahoma

There are many resources in Oklahoma that assist seniors in their retirement. Assistedliving.org has compiled information on local organizations, programs and agencies and categorized them into care types for easy reference.

Area Agency on Aging

Retirees can find support and advice on various senior-related issues from their local Area Agency on Aging. The agency provides advice on topics such as financial assistance programs, in-home care and long-term care planning. It also connects seniors and caregivers with community-based resources.

Cash Assistance Programs

Cash assistance programs in Oklahoma provide financial support to help low-income retirees remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Seniors and caregivers can apply for tax rebates and reductions, discounts on vital services and help covering the cost of heating and cooling their home.

Financial Assistance for Senior Care and Senior Living

Whether living in their own home or in a senior living community, Oklahoma seniors can find financial assistance from numerous local resources. These organizations help residents cover some of the costs associated with in-home or long-term care and connect them with other helpful community-based resources.

Food Assistance Programs

Local organizations help ensure elderly citizens have a balanced diet and receive essential vitamins and minerals to remain healthy. Through nutrition programs, congregate meals, home-delivered meals and food pantries, these programs help Oklahoma seniors afford the nutritious food they need.

Free Used Medical Equipment

Due to the high cost of purchasing new medical equipment, several organizations in Oklahoma collect lightly used medical devices such as wheelchairs, ramps and walkers and distribute them to local seniors and residents in need.

Home Repair and Modifications

Seniors and those with disabilities can access a variety of local resources to help them pay for home repairs and modifications. Programs in Oklahoma have different eligibility criteria and often assist retirees by providing grants or loans.

Legal Resources

Many organizations offer free or low-cost legal services to Oklahoma seniors. Older adults can access advice on issues such as estate planning, living wills and power of attorney. Some firms also act as long-term care ombudsmen, advocating for the rights of seniors in senior living communities.

Senior Engagement

Senior engagement resources and programs in Oklahoma help older adults remain active and ensure they contribute to the community. Resources include wellness programs, volunteer opportunities, support groups and organizations that help residents connect with the community to live fulfilling lives.

Social Security Offices

Social Security offices in Oklahoma help seniors and disabled people access the benefits they’re entitled to. Older adults can contact their local office for information about receiving retirement benefits, disability allowance and Supplemental Security Income.

Transportation Assistance

Assistance is available for seniors unable to access or use private transportation. These community resources help elderly and disabled residents make journeys in and around Oklahoma, allowing them to run errands and attend appointments in the local area.

Utility & Energy Bill Assistance

Low-income seniors who are struggling to meet the costs of maintaining their homes can find support from organizations that offer assistance with utility and energy bills. Oklahoma retirees could also qualify for emergency funding programs if they’re in danger of losing utility services due to unpaid invoices.

Veteran’s Services

Oklahoma retirees who have served in the U.S. military can find support from local veteran services. These offices and organizations help vets access the benefits they’re eligible for and provide advice and information on a variety of issues.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s Department of Health Services enforces comprehensive regulations for assisted living communities in the state. Below is an overview of pertinent regulations for residents of assisted living facilities and their families in the state of Oklahoma.

Assisted Living Assessments

An admission and comprehensive assessment must be completed to ensure the resident receives appropriate placement and the care he or she will need.

The assessments must include:

• A description of the resident’s physical, mental, psychosocial and cognitive medical conditions
• The number of people the resident will need to help him or her with activities of daily living
• The resident’s medications
• Any special treatment and procedures the resident will require
• Information about the resident’s physical and mental functions
• The type of services and how often the resident receives them
• Any disease diagnoses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia
• Details about the resident’s oral, nutritional, and skin conditions
• A summary of the resident’s sensory and physical impairments
• Whether the resident requires any devices or restraints

Assisted Living Admission Requirements

Assisted living communities in Oklahoma cannot accept any resident whose care or service needs go beyond what the assisted living facility is able to provide. Additionally, communities cannot admit a resident who requires physical or chemical restraints in a non-emergency situation, could be a threat to his or her self or others, or has privacy or dignity needs the assisted living facility is unable to fulfill.

Assisted Living Scope of Care

Assisted living communities are required to define the scope of services it provides to residents in writing. Overall, there are three types of services provided at assisted living communities in Oklahoma, which are listed below.

• Supervisory Care Services: Supervisory care refers to the daily observation of residents’ needs and capabilities, checking up on residents throughout the day, and assisting residents with medication.
• Personal Care Services: This type of care involves assistance with day-to-day activities, like grooming and dressing, along with medication administration and nursing services as needed.
• Directed Care Services: Directed care refers to services for individuals who are unable to make their own basic care decisions, call for help or understand dangerous situations.

Assisted Living Medicaid Policy

Residents who do not have a cognitive impairment or intellectual disability may find help with cost coverage through the Oklahoma ADvantage program. For Oklahoma seniors who reside in an assisted living community, ADvantage pays for case management as well as medical and care related services, but it does not cover expenses for room & board.

Not all Oklahoma assisted living facilities accept the ADvantage program, and the estimated cost of caring for the resident cannot exceed what it would cost annually to care for the resident in a nursing home.

Assisted Living Facility Requirements

Every assisted living unit is subject to the following requirements:

• Doors must be able to be locked, unless there is a documented medical condition stating otherwise.
• A thermostat must be provided which the resident can adjust, and it must protect the resident’s independence, privacy and safety.
• No more than two residents per bedroom are allowed.
• Only one resident at a time is allowed in the shower and bathing facilities.
• Unless the Department of Public Health has approved it, no more than four residents can share toilet or bathing facilities.
• Safety and assistance devices must be installed in bathing rooms for residents with special needs.
• A resident must be allowed to use any personal furnishings in their unit.

Medication Management Regulations

Only licensed staff who completed a training program that the Department of Health reviewed and approved may give residents their medications. Every month a registered nurse (RN) or pharmacist must review the residents’ medicine, and a consultant pharmacist is required to do the reviews on a quarterly basis.

Staffing Requirements

Oklahoma assisted living facilities are expected to provide enough staff to fulfill services identified in residents’ care plans. If the facility was designed or has a program that prevents or limits a resident’s access to certain areas, a minimum of two properly trained staff members must be on-site and awake in the specialized unit. When an employee who is training to be a nurse’s aide is on-site, a consulting nurse licensed to practice in this state must also be working to supervise the aide.

Staff Training Requirements

Employees who work at assisted living facilities in Oklahoma must have proper training. Training requirements include:

• All direct care staff must complete first aid training and CPR certification.
• Staff members who provide activity, exercise and socialization services must have had the proper training.
• Administrators must be licensed by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators, or have one of the following certificates of training: from a residential care home administrator from a Department-approved institution of higher learning, or a nationally recognized, Department-approved certification.
• Each year all medical and direct care staff is required to complete a minimum of one hour of in-service Alzheimer’s and dementia training.
• The dietary consultant must be a licensed dietician or qualified nutritionist.

Background Checks for Assisted Living

Before being hired, all applicants being offered a position at an assisted living facility must consent to a fingerprint-based national background check from the Department of Health. Any person who fails the background check will not be eligible to work at an assisted living community.

Requirements for Reporting Abuse

If you suspect a caregiver of abusing your elderly loved one or you’re the one being abused, you should report it immediately.

Report any form of elderly abuse (physical, mental, sexual, neglect or financial exploitation) to your local Department of Human Services (DHS). If the DHS is closed, you can call the Statewide Abuse Hotline at 1-800-522-3511.

Oklahoma Assisted Living Facilities must follow the state and federal laws and regulations to ensure the safety of all residents. If you suspect the facility is not in compliance with the laws and regulations, you can file a complaint through the Oklahoma Department of Health Services by sending an email to [email protected]. Alternatively, you can call (800) 747-8419 or (405) 271-6868.

Oklahoma COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living Facilities

Note: The following information was compiled and most recently updated on 2/13/22. Since COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving crisis, be sure to contact your assisted living facility or local Area Agency on Aging for the most up-to-date information.

Sources: oklahoma.gov www.cdc.gov