Memory Care Communities in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Families looking for more affordable cities in Oklahoma shouldn’t find it difficult as the others included in the survey are all more affordable. Enid’s average is $4,975, Tulsa’s $4,819 and Lawton’s $4,451.

Memory care communities are units within assisted living facilities with specially-trained staff providing 24/7 care. Consequently, rates are usually 20-30% higher. The fees listed here come from adding 25% to the average costs published in the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This reveals the median to be $6,000 in Oklahoma City, which is significantly more than the state average of $4,819 and above the norm for the country by around $375 per month.

Memory care facilities in the Oklahoma City region often accept public and private payments for services. Many local communities admit residents who rely on Medicaid for financial assistance, and our proprietary Caring.com database finds over a dozen options that accept veterans’ benefits.

• Medicaid: Medicaid-eligible seniors in Oklahoma City can pay for memory care services through two programs, the State Plan Personal Care Program and the Advantage Waiver Program. While these programs don’t pay for housing, their benefits include personal care, meals, basic housekeeping and recreation.
• Medicare: Memory care residents with complex medical needs can pay for any skilled nursing services they receive in memory care through their Medicare Part B coverage. However, nonmedical personal care services, meals and recreational activities fall outside the scope of this coverage.
• VA Benefits: Veterans in Oklahoma City may pay for memory care services, including personal care, meals and recreational therapies, through Aid and Attendance benefits and the Geriatrics and Extended Care program. Additionally, the VA provides direct memory care services through the Norman Veterans Home, located 20 miles from Oklahoma City.
• Private Payments: Oklahoma City seniors use private funds to pay for all types of memory care fees, including room and board, personal care services and meal plans. Sources for private payments include Social Security income, withdrawals from retirement accounts, long-term care insurance and certain types of life insurance policies.

Seniors who aren’t in need of institutional care can get homemaker services in Oklahoma City for approximately $4,957, while those who also require basic medical support can pay an additional $48 per month for a home health aide. Adult day care is the most affordable option, at around $1,593 per month, although families may need to factor transportation costs into their budgets. Assisted living’s typical rate is $4,800, while nursing home costs begin at $5,551 for a semiprivate room, rising to $7,391 for a private one.

The State Department of Health’s Long Term Care Service licenses memory care facilities in Oklahoma. After a facility has satisfied the terms and issued a license, Long Term Care Service will conduct an annual survey to determine if the facility is abiding by the terms under which it was granted. The department revokes licenses from underperforming facilities.

Benefits

• Oklahoma City’s cost of living runs roughly 4% below the national norm. This impacts the cost of medical services and residential memory care.
• Oklahoma doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, providing significant savings for seniors who rely primarily on this form of retirement income. Additionally, it provides a $10,000 deduction toward pension income and withdrawals from retirement savings, which can help seniors afford memory care in Oklahoma City.
• Oklahoma City has six hospitals and a combined total of over 1,950 licensed hospital beds, providing diverse inpatient and outpatient services. Two local hospitals provide specialized dementia services, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital and Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City.
• The Oklahoma City region outpaces state and national baselines for health factors, indicating access to high-quality care for those with chronic health conditions such as dementia. About 46% of Medicare beneficiaries get the flu shot annually versus 42% statewide, which can slow the spread of seasonal viruses in memory care communities.

Drawbacks

• Oklahoma City residents face a one in 27 chance of becoming crime victims, with the city reporting more criminal activity than 92% of communities statewide. However, most incidents take place in the central portion of the city, while the outer neighborhoods see minimal crime and provide safe options for those seeking memory care.