10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Oklahoma City, OK

Since memory care can be expensive, many seniors and their families take time to think through how to afford it. With careful planning, many find it attainable. Most families use at least some private income sources to afford an ideal community, but it’s still important to understand whether your loved one qualifies for additional assistance in paying for care. In fact, many seniors combine private funds and public benefits to help pay for memory care.

Here we guide you through the different options that seniors find helpful when looking to pay for memory care.

Oklahoma doesn’t have a specific legal definition for memory care communities, so, depending on the community, they may be licensed as assisted living centers or nursing homes.^[03] Memory care units may be part of a larger licensed facility.

A majority of A Place for Mom’s partners in Oklahoma City offer both assisted living and memory care services on-site. And most are licensed as assisted living communities. If the facility is qualified to provide specialized care for dementia, it must comply with the state’s Alzheimer’s Disease Special Care Disclosure Act.^[03]

Alzheimer’s Disease Special Care Disclosure Act

The Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Disorders Special Care Disclosure Form must include information, including, but not limited to, the following:^[03]

• Criteria for placement
• Staff-to-resident ratios
• Staff training
• Types and frequency of activities
• Families’ involvement in care planning

No matter the license, all long-term care facilities in Oklahoma that provide memory care services must submit a memory care disclosure to the following:

• The state licensing agency
• Any person looking for memory care
• The state long-term care ombudsman

The Oklahoma Department of Health (ODSH) also reviews the disclosure when renewing a license.

What type of facility requirements are there for assisted living centers?

Oklahoma requires assisted living facilities to meet current building codes, State Fire Marshal rules, and local fire safety requirements. All long-term care facilities’ annual inspection reports are available on the Oklahoma State Department of Health Long Term Care Provider Survey/Inspection Search. However, navigating this search engine can be difficult, so we’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to find detailed inspection reports:

• First, go to the OSDH Long Term Care Provider Survey/Inspection Search.
• In the top left-hand corner, there are three drop-down bars — home, search, and contact us — hover over “Search” and click “assisted living centers” on the drop-down list.
• You will be redirected to a search page, where you can search by facility, city, county, or zip code. Click on any of these search bars based on your preference and find your location or facility. Then, click “Search.”
• Next, a list of assisted living centers will load, and you can click on any you’re interested in.
• Finally, you will see detailed information about the community and a list of documents.
• Click on any survey documents or licenses you want to view. We recommend looking at the most recent survey documents for details on applicable complaints investigations, deficiencies, and plans of corrections.

Assisted living and memory care communities must meet certain standards for living spaces to help ensure it’s safe and feels like home. For example, residents won’t feel overcrowded since bedrooms are limited to two residents and bathrooms to no more than four residents.^[04] Oklahoma also helps your loved one feel at home by requiring their facilities to allow personal furnishings in assisted living spaces. On the other hand, Oklahoma doesn’t require assisted living or memory care communities to have private units available to rent. However, many of our OKC partners still offer private unit options.

How do staffing requirements keep your loved one safe?

Your loved one’s facility must strive to keep them safe with an adequate number of staff members. Oklahoma specifies what’s considered “adequate” with the following rules for available staff members:

• At least two staff members must be on-site around the clock if the community has a secured unit, like a memory care unit, that limits residents’ access to certain areas.
• At least one of those staff members must be part of the direct care staff, meaning they’re qualified to work 1-1 with residents.

However, there are a few ways a community may only have one direct staff member on duty. This may occur if there has been a recent change in the number of employees or if the facility is smaller and has fewer residents. If a community only has one direct care staff member, residents and their families must be notified of such staff limitations before the senior moves in. The community must also have a department-approved plan for how they handle emergencies with one staff member.

Assisted living facilities are required to staff the following types of staff members:

• Nurses
• Qualified staff to administer medications
• An administrator responsible for the facility
• A licensed dietician or qualified nutritionist

All direct care staff must undergo first-aid and CPR training to further ensure residents’ safety. And assisted living centers with specialized units, like dementia care neighborhoods, must ensure staff members receive specialized training.^[04]

Oklahoma Department of Health contact information

Further information on Health Facility Systems

123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: 405-426-8175
Fax: 405-900-7571
E-mail: HealthResources@health.ok.gov

COVID-19 regulations for Oklahoma City memory care facilities

Oklahoma’s governor ended the COVID-19 public health emergency in May 2021, which terminated all COVID-19 restrictions.^[05] However, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) still recommends following the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Similarly, memory care facilities in OKC don’t have to follow specific COVID-19 regulations, but individual communities may have their own guidelines. So, before moving in or visiting, it’s important to ask about their policies. Luckily, you won’t be prevented from visiting your loved one, thanks to Oklahoma’s prohibition on eliminating visitation in long-term care facilities. However, there’s a chance for a temporary suspension of visitation rights for up to 72 hours if emergency-preparedness plans call for it.^[06]

It may be difficult for your loved one to transition into memory care, but it can really pay off. There’s much more to a memory care community than daily support. Memory care communities are dedicated to providing specialized dementia care and various stimulating therapies in a safe, secure living environment. These facilities are also committed to creating an enjoyable life for seniors with dementia through specialized activities and amenities.

Your loved one can find a memory care community that fits their needs and preferences. Read on to learn more about OKC’s memory care communities — like their specialized care services, safe environments, rewarding daily activities, and comfortable amenities.

What are the different types of memory care communities in OKC?

Oklahoma City is home to stand-alone memory care facilities and memory care communities that offer a continuum of care. A Place for Mom partners with five stand-alone memory care communities and 14 continuum of care communities. Both of these types of facilities offer memory care services. However, memory care facilities with additional care types on the same campus can benefit couples with different care needs. For example, if one partner needs dementia care but the other only needs assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) in assisted living, they can still live on the same campus together.

What can your loved one expect in a memory care community?

Some seniors are reluctant to move into a memory care facility, but these communities can be life changing in a good way. These communities not only provide care, but they provide fulfilling activities and amenities within arm’s reach. Your loved one can continue their hobbies, develop new pastimes, and enjoy other residents’ company. All our memory care partners in OKC offer the following types of daily on-site activities:^[01]

• Art classes
• BBQs or picnics
• (Chair) yoga exercises
• Educational speakers/lifelong learning opportunities
• Live musical performances
• Trivia games
• On- and off-site devotional activities

Besides the typical senior care activities, our memory care partners focus on memory care programs ideal for those with dementia. Some of the memory care-specific activities common to our memory care partners in OKC include the following:

• Brain training programs like Dakim BrainFitness
• Sensory-based programs and therapies
• Reminiscence therapies
• Pet therapies
• Intergenerational programs
• Live Well and other wellness programs

And your loved one won’t be forced to stay cooped up in the community, as 79% of our memory partners offer off-site activities like day trips and outings.^[01] Depending on the community’s location and activity schedule, outings to the following locales may be organized:

• Local parks
• Nearby museums
• Shopping errands
• Restaurants

When seniors are not out exploring the local area, they can enjoy the various on-site amenities our partner memory care facilities incorporate into their facilities:

• Arts and crafts centers
• Beauty salons
• Barbershops
• Enclosed outdoor courtyards, patios, and gardens
• Indoor and/or outdoor walking paths
• TV lounges and movie theaters
• Libraries

Will my loved one feel safe in their memory care community?

Memory care communities strive to keep your loved one safe, so families can have peace of mind. Approximately 84% of our memory care partners in OKC have secured entrances and exits to help your loved one remain safe and prevent wandering.^[01] Many of these communities also install emergency call systems, so your loved one can quickly alert staff in an emergency.

You may also be concerned about Oklahoma’s severe weather, since it’s part of tornado alley. While there are no legally required precautions a facility must take, many communities are equipped with storm shelters or safe rooms to help ensure your loved one’s safety in severe weather.

Are caregivers required to have specialized memory care training?

In compliance with Oklahoma state law, our memory care partners have staff members on duty around the clock. And since specialized training is required in memory care communities, many of our OKC partners report that staff can easily handle common dementia behaviors like the following:^[01]

• Disorientation
• Restlessness
• Pacing
• Wandering
• Exit-seeking
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Hallucinations

What type of additional care is available on-site at our partner memory care facilities?

Many memory care communities also provide on-site medical care, with a doctor on-call and on-site nursing services.^[01] Nursing care may mean a community has nurses on staff or that they offer hospice or rehabilitative care on-site. Oklahoma City memory care facilities cater to many care needs, thanks to extensive on-site services like the following:

• Full medication management
• Bowel or urinary incontinence care
• Diabetes care
• End-of-life care
• Nonambulatory care like assisted transfers or standby assistance
• Concierge care services

To add to the specialized care memory care communities offer, nearly all (about 94%) of our partners arrange regular visits from medical professionals:^[01]

• Nurses
• Podiatrists
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech therapists

Health care for seniors in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is full of several distinguished health care systems where seniors with dementia can access specialized care. Here are a few patient-recommended hospitals in OKC that also have dementia-focused care.

Transportation for seniors in Oklahoma City

Since public transportation isn’t the safest option for seniors with dementia to get around the city, all our memory care partners in OKC offer on-site transportation options.^[01] While most of these services are complimentary, if a senior needs to use the service outside the scheduled times, it may cost extra. Additionally, depending on the community, some may restrict on-site transportation to errands and medical appointments. If your loved one is a SoonerCare recipient, they may also be eligible to receive additional transportation services through SoonerRide.

While Oklahoma City isn’t easy to get around, there are many public transportation options available for visiting family members and friends:

• Local bus stops are available along different routes and times, but most run daily.
• OKC Streetcars serves the area with daily downtown routes and weekend routes in Bricktown.
• Oklahoma River Cruises arranges ferries to accommodate five different landings in Bricktown, Regatta Park, Exchange, Stockyards, and Meridian.

Senior activities in Oklahoma City

Many of our partner memory care communities schedule outings for residents to enjoy. Day trips typically include dining, shopping, museums, and other local destinations. You and your loved one can explore these opportunities together when you visit. Below are a few of the many senior-friendly and accessible options for you and your loved one to enjoy together in OKC. You can also take a look at the VisitOKC webpage for a comprehensive list of activities for the whole family to enjoy in Oklahoma City.

Shop with your loved one in OKC

Since Oklahoma City is a large metropolis, you and your loved one will find several shopping centers with various stores, from local boutiques to well-known mall chains. You and your loved one can purchase souvenirs or more necessary items in nearby stores, like those listed below:

• OKC Outlets is the only outlet center in Oklahoma, with over 85 stores.
• 16th Street Plaza District has various boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and local events.
• The Paseo Arts District covers a wide range of artsy stores, local restaurants, and farmers markets.
• Spring Creek Plaza is home to upscale stores in the North OKC suburb of Edmond.

You and your loved one can also find well-known stores in local malls, like Penn Square Mall and Quail Springs Mall. These malls also have AMC theaters, so you and your loved one can take in a film.

Taste savory food at local restaurants

Oklahoma is known for its beef cattle, so visitors and locals can enjoy fresh, farm-to-table options in restaurants and grocery stores. The state is a meat lover’s paradise, to the point where many people call locally sourced steaks “Sooner Steaks,” after the Sooner State.

Besides steak — both traditional and chicken-fried — the area also offers delicious barbeque options. As a Southern state, trying the local barbeque is customary, whether you’re a visitor or a resident. However, don’t worry if you or your loved one are not meat lovers. OKC features something for everyone, with restaurants galore.

Explore the well-known Stockyards City

To truly experience OKC’s cowboy culture, you and your loved one must visit Stockyards City. Livestock wander the streets during various events and weekly cattle auctions. While enjoying the Western heritage, visitors and locals can find various local businesses, restaurants, and shopping options lining the streets.

Learn more at local museums

The area features many museums with the metropolis’s focus on culture. Some memory care communities help seniors uncover OKC culture through outings to local museums. When your loved one isn’t visiting museums with their community friends, they can explore with you when you visit. Many of these local museums prioritize accessibility. For example, the following museums lend free wheelchairs to those in need on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum: This well-known wheelchair-accessible museum, known as ‘The Cowboy,’ highlights cowboy culture and Western heritage.
• Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum: This wheelchair-accessible museum educates visitors and locals on the tragic bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building.
• First Americans Museum Oklahoma: OKC explores its Native American culture with 39 different historical stories on the First American Nations. The museum also offers sensory-friendly areas, with guides who help sensitive individuals avoid bright lights and loud audio.
• Oklahoma City Museum of Art: This large museum consists of various mediums, from portraits to sculptures. The museum also offers accommodations such as OKCMOA Sensory Booster Packs for those with sensory issues or sighted guides for those with limited vision.
• Science Museum Oklahoma: This science museum is home to Oklahoma’s first dome-screen theater. It also offers accommodations like wheelchair reservations and sensory kits.

Note: Before your visit, ask about accessibility and discounts. Some museums may require reservations for accessible features or offer senior discounts.

Appreciate the outdoors in the city

While Oklahoma City is the largest metropolis in Oklahoma, it still has a great deal of green spaces. Many communities take advantage of this by setting aside time to visit local parks. Depending on the community’s location, there are many parks and popular destinations that local residents have to choose from:

• Scissortail Park is an ADA-accessible park spread across nearly 70 acres. The park is senior-friendly with accessible features, including parking, restrooms, pedal boats, pathways, and a limited amount of golf tours.
• Will Rogers Gardens is a 30-acre garden located in one of the oldest parks in OKC. It  has an ADA-accessible trail through the Margaret Annis Boys Arboretum, so seniors with low mobility can easily explore the beautiful outdoor areas.

OKC goes beyond picnics in the park, with lakes, gardens, and zoos for you and your loved one to enjoy:

• OKC is home to three lakes: Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, and Lake Stanley Draper. Each of these lakes allows year-round fishing in its accessible designated areas.
• Oklahoma City Zoo is a wheelchair-accessible zoo spread across 130 acres. The zoo offers accessible features with limited wheelchairs and electric convenience vehicle rentals.
• Myriad Botanical Gardens is a 15-acre garden with select accessible areas, including paths in the conservatory.

Cheer on local sports teams at accessible stadiums

Visiting families and friends can enjoy supporting local sports teams with their loved ones. The professional sports teams — the NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the minor league baseball team, the Dodgers — play in stadiums where your loved one can purchase tickets in accessible seating sections. Additionally, the Paycom Center, home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, offers additional accessibility features like the following:

• Wheelchair escorts
• Sensory inclusion room
• Assisted drop-off at entrances closest to elevators
• Assistive listening devices