10 Best Nursing Homes in Oklahoma City, OK

Like most seniors and families, you and your loved one may wonder whether a senior care community is within your budget. Luckily, many find senior care costs attainable by combining private income sources and senior benefits. In this section, we’ll guide you through the different ways seniors and their families pay for long-term senior care.

All senior care communities — nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care facilities — are licensed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Below is a brief explanation on how regulations differ between skilled nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care communities.

Facility requirements

Skilled nursing facilities in OKC have slightly different facility requirements than assisted living and memory care communities. A skilled nursing home can place up to four seniors in a room and no more than four people per bathroom. Additionally, your loved one’s room must have a clothes rod, an adjustable shelf, and at least one of the following spaces for personal items:^[05]

• Wardrobe
• Locker
• Closet

Oklahoma has additional requirements for areas that extend services by adding different wellness therapies and dining. For further information on these areas, visit the Nursing and Specialized Facilities guidelines.

Assisted living and memory care facilities can only have up to two residents per bedroom and four residents per bathroom. Neither type of facility is obligated by law to allow private unit options. However, many of our partner facilities offer private room options. Assisted living and memory care facilities are required to let residents bring personal furnishings and belongings into their living spaces.^[06]

Staffing requirements

Skilled nursing facilities have a staff of nurses and doctors with more extensive staffing requirements than other senior care communities that provide 24-hour medical supervision. Oklahoma law specifically requires nursing facilities to staff certain types of specialized staff members:^[05]

• The nursing facility administrator should be licensed by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators.
• An Oklahoma licensed medical doctor or osteopathic physician should serve as the facility’s medical director.
• A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse should serve as the director of nursing.
• Licensed nurses must be on duty for a sufficient number of hours to meet every resident’s needs.
• A registered or licensed dietician or qualified nutritionist should oversee meal plans.
• Designated activity staff members should be available at least 20 hours per week.

Assisted living and memory care facilities have a less specific list of staffing requirements. However, these senior care communities must staff the following types of specialists:

• Nurses
• Staff qualified to administer medications
• A facility administrator
• A licensed dietician or qualified nutritionist

At least two staff members must be on-site around the clock to limit residents’ access to certain community areas. And at least one of those must be a direct staff member who can work individually with residents. All direct care staff must undergo first-aid and CPR training. Additionally, specialized memory care units must ensure caregivers receive specialized training.^[06]

Inspection reports

Nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities undergo inspections conducted by a Quality Assurance Officer from the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) at least every six months. Assisted living and memory care communities undergo annual inspections. These inspections ensure facilities meet current building codes, State Fire Marshal rules, and local fire safety requirements. If a facility is deficient in any area, they must create a plan of correction within 10 business days of receiving notice of a violation.^[05,06]

Seniors and their families can access detailed inspection reports for any licensed senior care facility on the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Long Term Care Provider Survey/Inspection Search. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to find inspection reports through this search engine:

• Start by going to the OSDH Long Term Care Provider Survey/Inspection Search.
• Once you reach the page, go to the top left-hand corner, where there are three drop-down bars — Home, Search, and Contact Us. Hover over “Search,” and click on the respective senior community type you’re trying to find. Note: Memory care communities fall under “Assisted Living Centers.”
• You’ll then be redirected to a search page, where you can search by facility name, city, county, or zip code. Click on any of these search bars to either type in or pick from drop down menus to find your location or facility. Then, click “Search.”
• Next, a list of senior care facilities will load, and you can click on any you’re interested in.
• After you click on a facility, you’ll find detailed information about that community with a list of documents.
• You can click on any survey documents or licenses from there. We recommend looking at the most recent survey documents for details on applicable complaints, investigations, deficiencies, and plans of corrections.

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 nursing homes

Oklahoma City no longer enforces COVID-19 restrictions since the governor terminated the public health emergency in May 2021.^[06] Senior care communities may still implement their own COVID-19 guidelines.

Before a senior moves into a facility, their family should ask about COVID-19 policies. Regardless, Oklahoma prohibits long-term care facilities from eliminating visitation. However, facilities are allowed to limit visitation for up to 72 hours based on their emergency-preparedness plans.^[08]

While there are no state-wide restrictions, the Oklahoma Department of Health (OSDH) still recommends following current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Oklahoma City can accommodate a slew of senior care needs, with plenty of nursing home, assisted living, and memory care facilities. On-site amenities and services vary depending on what care the facility specializes in. For instance, nursing care can be provided at any senior care facility, but skilled nursing care might require a skilled nursing facility or skilled nursing unit within a senior care facility. Nursing care services are light nursing care for daily needs, while skilled nursing care usually involves 24/7 medical observation.

Read on to learn more about what you can expect from a nursing home or skilled nursing facility versus our partner senior care communities in Oklahoma City.

What do nursing home or skilled nursing facilities provide in OKC?

Skilled nursing facilities in Oklahoma City have a staff of nurses and doctors who provide 24-hour medical care and observation. In Oklahoma City, skilled nursing facilities or units are equipped to provide the following types of medical services:

• Rehabilitative care (like for post-operation care or illness)
• Rehabilitative therapies (like physical, occupational, and speech therapy)
• Pain management
• IV therapy
• Tube feeding
• Catheter or colostomy care
• Wound care
• Respiratory care
• Dialysis

Skilled nursing care helps people recover properly from hospital stays, severe illnesses, and surgeries. Many skilled nursing facilities also offer advanced rehabilitative services for conditions like strokes, cardiac issues, post-surgery care, and other conditions. Most of these long-term care facilities also provide similar services to other senior care communities, such as meals, religious services, housekeeping, and enrichment activities.

What does assisted living and memory care provide in OKC?

A majority of assisted living and memory care communities occupy the same campus. Only 30% of our senior care partners are stand-alone assisted living or memory care facilities.^[02] Most assisted living communities have similar ambiances and amenities, while specialized memory care facilities offer dementia-specific care, amenities, and activities.

Both assisted living and memory care communities support your loved one’s complete well-being by providing personalized care services like those listed below:

• Assistance with activities of daily living
• 24-hour caregiver oversight
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• Meals and snacks
• Transportation services
• Concierge services

Additionally, many of these senior care communities safeguard your loved one with staff supervision and the following facility features:

• Secured entrances and exits
• Wheelchair-accessible showers
• Handicap-accessible grounds
• Emergency call systems
• Storm shelters or safe rooms

All of our OKC senior care partners go beyond secure living environments and care services by organizing the following types of on-site activities:^[02]

• Art classes
• (Chair) yoga exercises
• Educational speakers/lifelong learning opportunities
• Live musical performances
• Trivia games
• Happy hours
• Devotional activities

These facilities also entertain seniors with on-site amenities for socializing and convenience, like enclosed outdoor courtyards, gardens, theaters, social lounges, and libraries.

How are assisted living and memory care communities different than nursing homes?

Assisted living and memory care communities aren’t designed to provide medical care, so they don’t always offer advanced nursing care services. Advanced nursing or skilled nursing care involves 24/7 medical supervision by a staff of nurses and doctors. Unless an assisted living facility is home to a skilled nursing unit, the on-site nursing services are not round-the-clock and are meant to provide general daily assistance.

Many of our assisted living and memory care partners offer access to some general nursing care services on-site to accommodate resident needs.^[02]

How do on-site nursing services help accommodate senior needs?

While our senior care partners in OKC don’t always have on-site skilled nursing care, many cater to daily needs with on-site nursing care through third-party care services. Approximately 73% of our senior care partners can arrange on-site nursing care for current residents if the need arises.^[02] Keep in mind nursing care differs from skilled nursing in that it’s not 24-hour medical attention.

An assisted living facility that provides on-site nursing care means nurses are on staff and residents may have access to the following types of services:

• Rehabilitative care
• Wound care
• Diabetic care
• IV therapy
• Ostomy care
• Incontinence care
• Oxygen therapy
• Medication administration
• Hospice and palliative care

Health care for seniors in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is full of distinguished hospitals with specialized care services. Here are a few of Oklahoma City’s health care systems that patients highly recommend.

Transportation for seniors in Oklahoma City

The safest option for seniors to get around Oklahoma City is transportation services provided by their senior care community. Thankfully, all of our OKC senior care community partners offer some form of on-site transportation options to residents.^[02] While a majority of these are complimentary services, some communities require additional fees if it’s outside scheduled times or destinations.

Accessible public transportation options in OKC

If your loved one needs additional ways of getting around, there are a couple of accessible options for transportation in the area. These options are for Medicaid recipients or individuals with disabilities:

• SoonerRide: SoonerCare recipients may be eligible for transportation services through SoonerRide.
• EMBARK Plus: This shared-ride paratransit service is for people with disabilities. The individual must have a disability that prevents them from using other public transportation options.

Family members and friends from out of town may need to rent a car when visiting their loved one since the city can be difficult to navigate without your own means of transportation. For local visitors and those unable to rent a car, here are the general public transportation options:

• Local buses: Most local buses run daily, with different schedules and routes.
• OKC Streetcars: The ADA-accessible streetcars with low platforms stop in 22 areas. One streetcar travels downtown daily, while the other is available on weekends in Bricktown.
• Oklahoma River Cruises: This is the most scenic option, but it’s also limited since there are only has five landings in OKC, which are along Bricktown, Regatta Park, Stockyards, Exchange, and Meridian.

Senior activities in Oklahoma City

Besides senior care communities, Oklahoma City accommodates the senior population with age-friendly activities and environments. Here are a few diverse activities scattered throughout the city that seniors and their families can enjoy when they visit. You can also check out the Visit OKC page for more highlights of local favored attractions.

Shopping in OKC

Seniors and their families all love OKC shopping opportunities. There are shopping centers within driving distance from nearly any neighborhood. And, the city is home to the only outlet center in the state, OKC Outlets. There are numerous shopping malls and districts in OKC:

• 16th Street Plaza District
• Penn Square Mall
• Quail Springs Mall
• Spring Creek Plaza
• The Paseo Arts District

Restaurants in OKC

You can find a variety of good eats and treats in OKC restaurants. The area is famous for both chicken-fried and traditional steak, BBQ, and other meat-lover dishes. In addition to various upscale steakhouses, OKC is home to Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, a chain restaurant dedicated to the famous Oklahoma native, where you can enjoy one of his favorite dishes —Cowboy Ribeye. In fact, Oklahoma even designated the delicious ribeye cut as the state steak. And as a Southern state with a local cattle-ranching industry, trying out the local barbeque joints is a must.

Stockyards City

Both visiting family members and local senior residents must visit the well-known Stockyards City in Oklahoma City. In this area, you’ll experience the authentic cowboy culture of Oklahoma City, with livestock walking the streets during weekly cattle auctions. Additionally, the area is full of local businesses, restaurants, stores, and the music venue, Oklahoma Opry.

Museums in OKC

Oklahoma City features a multitude of museums, from Western heritage to artsy displays. In addition, several museums in OKC accommodate everyone. The following museums offer accessibility features, like free wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis:

• National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum — or The Cowboy — is a well-known wheelchair-accessible museum with local cowboy culture information.
• Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum is a wheelchair-accessible museum dedicated to the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building.
• First Americans Museum Oklahoma tells nearly 40 stories about the First American Nations. The museum also helps provide a senior-friendly environment with guides to help seniors avoid bright lights and loud audio.
• Oklahoma City Museum of Art features various artworks, from portraits to sculptures. The museum helps with different accessibility options, like sighted guides and OKCMOA Sensory Booster Packs.
• Science Museum Oklahoma is the first science museum in Oklahoma with a dome-screen theater. Your loved one can reserve a sensory kit to help them enjoy this feature.

Note: Seniors and their families should ask about accessibility and discounts before visiting the museum since some features may need reservations.

Sports teams in OKC

Oklahoma City is the stomping ground for two primary OKC sports teams — the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dodgers. Whether locals are basketball or baseball fans, they fiercely support their local teams. Luckily, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dodgers play in accessible stadiums — the Paycom Center and Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark — with accessible seating options. The Paycom Center provides various accessibility features:

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

Outdoor areas across OKC

Oklahoma City goes beyond the standard city environment with its robust outdoor opportunities. There are many outdoor areas full of different activities to watch and amenities to enjoy, plus some areas come with accessible features:

• Scissortail Park is nearly 70 acres of outdoor features, with ADA-accessible parks and accessible pedal boats.
• OKC lakes: Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, and Lake Stanley Draper are the three lakes in OKC. These lakes offer accessible fishing areas available year-round.
• Oklahoma City Zoo: This wheelchair-accessible zoo offers wheelchair and electric vehicle rentals to help everyone get around the 130-acre zoo.
• Myriad Botanical Gardens lies on 15 acres of visually stimulating greenery, complete with a botanical garden and conservatory.