Oklahoma City welcomes seniors into a charming Southern capital featuring cowboy culture, proud Native American heritage, and a beautiful city skyline. It offers retirees an affordable cost of living, plentiful activities, and a robust number of assisted living communities. Assisted living in Oklahoma City — or OKC, as locals call it — provides a safe living environment for seniors needing extra assistance, care, and supervision.
This all-inclusive guide is comprised of information and listings from our 20 assisted living partners nestled within a 10-mile radius of downtown Oklahoma City. However, our assisted living partners are located in other neighborhoods of OKC and surrounding areas like Bethany, Midwest City, The Village, and Del City. Since these facilities are still located close to downtown, seniors and their families can easily travel into the hustle and bustle. This guide describes what to expect from our assisted living partners and provides answers to common questions like the following:
- How do seniors pay for assisted living?
- What does assisted living offer?
- How does Oklahoma regulate assisted living?
- Will your loved one feel at home in assisted living?
Read on to get a sense of why OKC is a wonderful place for seniors to retire.
Find Assisted Living Communities Near Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City welcomes seniors into a charming Southern capital featuring cowboy culture, proud Native American heritage, and a beautiful city skyline. It offers retirees an affordable cost of living, plentiful activities, and a robust number of assisted living communities. Assisted living in Oklahoma City — or OKC, as locals call it — provides a safe living environment for seniors needing extra assistance, care, and supervision.Read more
This all-inclusive guide is comprised of information and listings from our 20 assisted living partners nestled within a 10-mile radius of downtown Oklahoma City. However, our assisted living partners are located in other neighborhoods of OKC and surrounding areas like Bethany, Midwest City, The Village, and Del City. Since these facilities are still located close to downtown, seniors and their families can easily travel into the hustle and bustle. This guide describes what to expect from our assisted living partners and provides answers to common questions like the following:
- How do seniors pay for assisted living?
- What does assisted living offer?
- How does Oklahoma regulate assisted living?
- Will your loved one feel at home in assisted living?
Read on to get a sense of why OKC is a wonderful place for seniors to retire.
Oklahoma City Assisted Living Facilities | 841 Reviews
The community is very warm, upbeat and loving. The staff goes out of their way to accommodate the residents and their family members. We chose VOTP because of the location and the good reviews we heard from...
Staff is wonderful. Move in was very easy. There is always an open line of communication. My father sometimes, most of the time, likes the food. But sometimes he doesn't. I think that's just a thing. The...
At Raider Ranch, the high-speed internet and advanced communication services make my life easier and more connected. This modern, tech-friendly community suits my digital lifestyle, keeping me engaged with...
Legend at Rivendell is all around a great place. It is very nice and clean and we were proud to be able to get and keep her in such a nice place. I do think that they could have had more scheduled...
We have had an exceptional experience and are grateful to this facility. My only suggestion would be for the kitchen to keep a board listing the residents food allergies so they do not have to make requests...
I would recommend. They aren't quick to up their care level area to make more money. But they still provide all the care the residents deserve. My mom loves it! It's like a family. We picked this community,...
My mother-in-law loves the food, the cleanliness, overall the staff. Attentiveness of the staff, especially [name removed] and [name removed].
My aunt has been here for 4 months now. I am so thankful we found Harbor Chase. She was in another facility that was supposed to be one of the best. However, they could not provide the higher level of care...
I moved mom to Legends this year so she would be closer to family. There are eight of us now within a few minutes drive to see her. One of the things I am most impressed with is the service and food quality...
I still am no closer to the VA assistance. This week Sand Sage has arranged for several of us to speak directly to a VA representative so that we can finally get the assistance we all need. The VA...
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Even though we are no longer using Homestead of Del City for our loved one, we found that everyone there was very helpful and polite.
The care is good & mom seems comfortable there. The price seems high but is online with similar facilities. We wish we had placed her closer to one of our homes though.
My loved one is a resident at The Mansion at Waterford and isn't very happy there, mainly due to the renovations and lack of a kitchen. The place has been torn up since early November and is still a mess....
We could not be more pleased. [name removed] and staff have gone above and beyond anything they could do. Would recommend the Glade to everyone. And a place for Mom are the ones who helped us find the Glade....
The staff seems nice and try to engage the residents in all activities. They seem to be patient with the residents. I really appreciate the security that is provided. I believe, just what I observed when...
My loved one was a resident at Proveer at Quail Creek. Proveer was great! The food, the care, etc were super. I would recommend this facility to others.
What our family likes the most about the Dorset Place is the staff. The staff members there really seem to care and the provide kindness and compassion to the residents. Based on the experience we have had...
My mother fell and broke her hip 6 weeks ago. We knew it would not be safe to go back home for awhile. My brother , husband and I looked at several places Iare so blessed to have found Vitality. The staff...
The care services were good. The food was good. We picked this community because, it was close to our home, and we liked the apperance of the facility. My loved one was here was respite care. They were very...
The care that my loved one received in the memory care unit was phenomenal, I was enthused. I was told my loved one would need to transition into long term care which is why we moved and we were sad to have...
- I made a trip to Walmart one day at checkout I dropped an item and upon reaching to pick it up I lost my balance and hit my head on a pole. After returning for lunch to Arbor House a member of the staff...
I visited a friend at Morada and played games, worked the jigsaw puzzle, and had lunch. The food prepared by the chef was delicious and the Activities Director's choices of games were so much fun. The...
What our family likes the most about the Morada Lake Hefner community is the staff members, they are friendly. Based on the experience we have had so far, we would recommend this community to other families
[name removed] has been invaluable to me. I toured the facility several months ago. My dad was in a different facility halfway across the state. I was not ready when I did the tour to move him yet but she...
They really strive to make family included in the monthly activities. They are welcoming to pets and keep chickens and geese on the property as pets. They were responsive to things that were making us...
- Costs of assisted living in the Oklahoma City area
- How people pay for assisted living in Oklahoma City
- Understand Oklahoma laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
- Get to know assisted living in Oklahoma City
- What to expect from assisted living in Oklahoma City
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Unfamiliar with Oklahoma City? Highlights for seniors
Costs of assisted living in the Oklahoma City area
The average starting rent for assisted living in Oklahoma City is $4,106 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2022-2023 proprietary data.[01] This price only includes room and board costs. Therefore, the price may increase depending on the care and fees for additional services. Even with the additional costs, starting rent for OKC assisted living facilities remains lower than the nationwide median.
Breakdown of assisted living costs
Assisted living prices vary based on amenities, floor places, services, care offered, and location. For example, our data shows a semi-private studio is approximately $750 cheaper than a private studio.[01]
Assisted living communities typically include services like those below in their monthly costs:
- Room and board
- A 24-hour awake staff
- Assistance with activities of daily living
- Medication management
- Meals and snacks
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Social programs and activities
- Concierge
Add-on fees depend on the community and your loved one’s needs but may include the following:
- Transportation fees (if not complimentary)
- A one-time initial community fee
- Additional care fees
- Medication fees
- Parking fees
- Second-person fees
- Pet fees
Below are average baseline rental costs for assisted living communities in the area to help you compare Oklahoma City assisted living prices to nearby cities. These prices do not include additional fees.
Average cost comparisons near Oklahoma City, OK
Average monthly costs
Oklahoma City, OK
How people pay for assisted living in Oklahoma City
Seniors and their families can use private and public funds to pay for assisted living in Oklahoma City. When deciding how to pay, families usually start by looking at their loved one’s private income sources. Then, they determine what benefits their loved one may qualify for and whether they can help cover assisted living costs.
Here, we guide you through potential payment options with information on private pay, veterans benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Most seniors and their families start with their personal income sources when they begin their payment plan for assisted living in Oklahoma City. Seniors typically use savings, Social Security benefits, pensions, and investment returns. However, there are other ways seniors free up cash to pay for their ideal assisted living community:
Number of veterans currently living in Oklahoma City
About 18% of Oklahoma City veterans are aged 65+.
Senior veterans and surviving spouses may be eligible for pensions and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Especially with the VA’s extensive list of eligible service-connected disabilities, it’s highly likely that a senior veteran will qualify for some benefit.
Can veterans benefits help pay for assisted living?
Yes, senior veterans or their surviving spouses can use veterans benefits to help pay for their assisted living expenses. There are a broad range of benefits available that can be used for anything that may improve quality of life. Most recipients find the Aid and Attendance benefit the most substantial perk, especially since it can be added to a veteran’s VA pension.
In Oklahoma, seniors can also save money through specific state veterans benefits, including sales tax exemptions and retirement benefits.
How can my loved one apply for benefits?
Seniors should start the application process by locating benefit assistance programs, often provided by veterans service organizations (VSOs). Oklahoma City has many local resources to help veterans apply for assistance, understand what benefits they qualify for, and file claims. The best resources are local, VA-vetted VSOs that can help ensure seniors receive accurate information and help, even in appealing denied claims.
Additionally, Oklahoma helps locals find nearby resources through the veterans assistance locator, VALOR (also referred to as OKVALOR). This locator can be difficult to understand, so we created a step-by-step guide on how to operate the system:
- First, click on GO TO OKVALOR.
- Go to the search bar on the OKVALOR Resource Proximity Search, enter your address, and adjust the radius to see nearby results.
- A list will appear of local resources, or you can click on the triangles on the map within that radius.
For a walkthrough of how the tool works, click “GO TO FEATURES” when you first land on the webpage or click the “FEATURES” button on the left at any time.
Resources for Oklahoma City veterans
Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
2132 NE 36th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Local phone: 405-523-4000
Toll free phone: 888-655-2838
Fax: 405-523-4008
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Appointment and walk-in hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
Mid-America Chapter PVA
6108 NW 63rd St., Suite A
Oklahoma City, OK 73132-7526
Direct Number: 405-721-7168
National Service Number: 866-734-0857
Email: midamericapva@yahoo.com
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
VVA Chapter #291
Phone: 405-608-0449
Email: chris.chaney1@hotmail.com
Low-income families and individuals, like seniors, may be eligible to receive health insurance coverage through SoonerCare, Oklahoma City’s Medicaid program. SoonerCare can help cover several health care services, including those listed below:
- Personal care services
- Podiatry services
- Prescription drugs
- Preventative services
SoonerCare will not cover room and board costs in a private assisted living facility. But it can help cover in-home health care services in the senior’s place of residence through home and community based services waivers, like the ADvantage Waiver program. It will also cover assisted living options at designated ADvantage assisted living facilities through Assisted Living Service Option (ALSO). Read on for more information on these ADvantage programs.
What is the ADvantage Waiver program?
SoonerCare has home and community based waivers like the ADvantage Waiver program to help cover care services in an assisted living community. These services can include but are not limited to the following:
- Personal caregiving services, like meal prep
- Personal care in adult day health
- Rehabilitative services like physical, respiratory, occupational, and speech therapy
- Hospice care
- Skilled nursing
- Transitional case management
- RN assessment evaluation
If you do not qualify for ADvantage, you can find helpful information on similar services on the Community Living, Aging, and Protective Services (CAP) webpage.
What is the ADvantage Assisted Living Service Option (ALSO)?
The Assisted Living Service Option (ALSO) is for SoonerCare’s ADvantage waiver recipients. This program helps meet seniors’ care needs by helping them access assisted living facility options. After seniors qualify for the ADvantage waiver, they must meet additional ALSO requirements. These include the following:
- The senior’s current home is unsafe.
- The senior’s current home limits their activities of daily living.
- A senior is at risk of losing their home.
- A senior needs more care than an in-home caregiver can provide.
- A senior lives in an assisted living community and needs to move.
This option is only for designated ADvantage assisted living facilities. As of 2022, our assisted living partners are not ADvantage facilities. You or your loved one can find a list of ADvantage assisted living facilities on the Oklahoma Department of Human Services website.
How do seniors apply for SoonerCare?
SoonerCare programs have different eligibility requirements, so it can take time to fully understand what benefits your loved one may qualify for. Luckily, Oklahoma City delivers local resources to help seniors and their loved ones understand their benefits. For example, the Department of Medicaid offices can help you with eligibility requirements, the application process, and filing for claims.
The area also helps locals through hard-to-understand programs, like SoonerCare, through the 24-hour Heartline, Inc. resource line. There are various communication options — over the phone, texting, and online 2-1-1 chat — to help accommodate all your or your loved one’s preferences.
Oklahoma City resident Medicaid resources
Department of Medicaid office
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
4345 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Areawide Aging Agency, Inc.
4101 Perimeter Center Drive, Suite 310
Oklahoma City, OK 73112-5910
Phone: 405-942-8500
Community Living, Aging, and Protective Services (CAP)
Phone: 405-521-2281
Fax: 405-521-2086
Heartline, Inc. Oklahoma resource line
Phone: 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211
The federal health insurance program, Medicare, provides health insurance to qualifying seniors aged 65+ and disabled individuals. Medicare doesn’t cover room and board costs at private assisted living facilities. Medicare can cover medical expenses like those listed below:
- Hospital stays
- Skilled nursing services
- Prescription drugs
- Doctors’ visits
- Hospice care
- Rehabilitative care
Can I get help covering Medicare premium costs?
Low-income Medicare recipients can receive help with premium costs through Oklahoma’s Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA). This includes assistance with premium costs through the Medicare Savings Program and prescription coverage assistance through Extra Help.
How do I get assistance with Medicare benefits?
Your loved one will have access to local resources that can guide them through Medicare benefits, the application process, and filing claims. Social Security and Department of Medicaid local offices are some of the best resources for anyone confused by Medicare benefits.
Additionally, the Oklahoma Insurance Department has a nonprofit organization, the Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program, which helps seniors understand Medicare benefits. Seniors can also reach out to the local long-term care ombudsman, who helps support and advocate for seniors’ health care rights. Like Medicaid, you can find help through the local 24-hour Oklahoma resource line — Heartline, Inc. You or your loved one can contact this resource by dialing 2-1-1, texting your OKC zip code to 898-211, or contacting a representative on the online 2-1-1 chat.
Oklahoma City resident Medicare resources
Oklahoma City Social Security office
12301 N. Kelley Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73131
Phone: 866-331-2207
TTY Phone: 800-325-0778
Fax: 833-950-3005
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Appointment and walk-in hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Current long-term care ombudsman contact
Name: Bill Whited
Phone: 405-521-2281
Fax: 405-522-6739
General information and assistance for seniors
Phone: 800-211-2116
Local MIPPA coordinator
Name: Debra Shadid
Phone: 405-212-7910
Email: Debra.CTR.Shadid@okdhs.org
Understand Oklahoma laws and regulations for assisted living facilities
Seniors and their families can rest easy knowing Oklahoma implemented regulations for assisted living facilities to ensure residents receive the care they need in a safe environment. OKC communities are licensed as either assisted living centers or residential care homes. An assisted living center is a community that offers personal care services to two or more people, while residential care homes provide supportive assistance in a residential setting to those who are ambulatory (i.e. can walk around) and able to manage their personal affairs.[03,04]
The community must meet current building codes, State Fire Marshal rules, and local fire safety requirements to obtain an assisted living center license. Oklahoma inspects assisted living facilities annually to ensure they meet current standards.[03] Inspection reports are available on the Oklahoma State Department of Health (ODSH) Long Term Care Provider Survey/Inspection Search. This search engine can be difficult to navigate, so we’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to find the detailed inspection reports for assisted living centers and residential care homes:
- 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” to see a drop down list of options. Then, click “assisted living centers” or “residential care homes.”
- You will be redirected to a search page. There you can search by facility, city, county, or zip code. Decide how you would like to search for a community and then click on the correlated search bar. After you find your location or facility, click “search.”
- Next, a list of facilities or care homes will load and you can click on any that you would like to learn more about.
- After clicking on a community, you will see detailed information about the facility and a list of documents.
- Depending on what you would like to view, click on survey documents or licenses. We recommend looking at the most recent survey documents for details on applicable complaints investigations, deficiencies, and plans of corrections.
How do facility requirements protect residents?
Assisted living facilities have few building regulations. For example, assisted living facilities are not required to have private units. However, residents won’t have to share private areas with too many other residents with state regulations like those listed below:[03]
- More than two residents cannot share a bedroom.
- More than four residents cannot share a bathroom.
Facilities also prioritize residents’ privacy by allowing lockable doors in their unit. Additionally, seniors can feel at home thanks to being able to have personal furnishings in their living space.
What are the staffing requirements for assisted living facilities?
Assisted living communities must have adequate staffing to meet the needs of every resident. Meaning the community must provide or arrange staffing such as the following:
- Nurses
- Qualified staff to administer medications
- An administrator responsible for the facility
- A licensed dietician or qualified nutritionist
To help ensure residents’ safety, direct care staff members must have first-aid and CPR training. Oklahoma also requires assisted living communities to have at least two staff members awake and on duty at all times. Additionally, at least one direct staff member must be available 24/7 to limit access to areas outside the unit.[03]
What types of care can assisted living facilities provide?
Assisted living facilities in Oklahoma are permitted to provide numerous care services. This may include the following types of care services:[03]
- Personal care
- Nursing supervision
- Intermittent nursing care
- Medication administration under a physician’s orders
- Assistance with transfers
- Social activities
- Meals
- Housekeeping
- Laundry services
- Assistance with cognitive care
- Services for seniors with dementia
What are your loved one’s rights in assisted living communities?
Before moving into an assisted living facility, a senior should receive a complete contract with information on the following procedures:
- Admission criteria
- Discharge criteria
- Services provided in the community
- Procedures for dispute resolution and grievances
- Contract term
- Renewal process
- Cancellation provisions
- Conformity with state law
To help ensure your loved one receives the best care, assisted living communities can’t admit seniors who need more services than the facility can provide. Oklahoma requires community health professionals to identify whether a senior will receive the care they need in the facility. Then, the on-site health care professional must create a care plan after consulting with the senior.[03]
How are residential care homes different from assisted living centers?
Residential care homes must have a sufficient amount of staff members with the following on staff:
- One administrator responsible for the home
- At least one person in charge of the home at all times
- At least one staff member trained in first-aid and CPR available at all times
Additionally, staff members should be available for at least 45 minutes daily per resident.
The home requirements differ from assisted living centers since it allows more residents per area. For example, there must be a bathroom for every six residents, and for every 10 residents, there must be at least one tub or shower.[05]
Note: These regulations may change for residential care homes for three or fewer residents. However, all of our residential care home partners offer care to five residents in a home, so this is not applicable for our partners.
COVID-19 regulations for Oklahoma City assisted living facilities
The governor terminated the public health emergency for COVID-19 in May 2021, which ended all COVID-19 restrictions.[05] However, assisted living facilities may have their own COVID-19 policies. So it’s important to ask a facility about their specific COVID-19 guidelines. Oklahoma prohibits long-term care facilities from eliminating visitation, but temporary suspension of visitation rights is allowed for up to 72 hours based on emergency-preparedness plans.[06]
For all other COVID-19 regulations, the Oklahoma Department of Health (ODOH) recommends following current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Get to know assisted living in Oklahoma City
3844
80
What to expect from assisted living in Oklahoma City
In OKC assisted living communities, your loved one can live a pleasant lifestyle while receiving quality care in a safe environment. The area has a wide range of assisted living communities, from stand-alone facilities to those that provide a continuum of care. Read on to learn what your loved one will experience in an Oklahoma City assisted living community.
What are the different types of assisted living facilities in OKC?
Oklahoma City has various assisted living facilities with stand-alone options, communities with a continuum of care services, and residential care homes.
Assisted living with advanced care services
Most of our assisted living partners (75%) enable seniors to age in place with independent living and/or memory care services available on the same campus. This way, those in independent living who grow to need more assistance can access care services. And if your loved one ever develops dementia, they can continue living on the same campus, but typically in another area.
Stand-alone assisted living
A Place for Mom has only three stand-alone assisted living partners in OKC.[01] There are only slight differences between stand-alone communities and those providing a continuum of care. For example, stand-alone assisted living facilities in Oklahoma City are more homelike than communities with more advanced care. Comparatively, stand-alone communities don’t exceed one-bedroom units, while those with advanced care services sometimes offer two-bedroom units.
Residential care homes
Residential care homes differ the most between the various types of communities. These communities are in single-family homes, so they are the homiest and coziest assisted living option in OKC. These also provide a higher caregiver-to-staff ratio since they limit the number of residents. That being said, A Place for Mom only partners with two assisted living residential care homes.[01]
Will my loved one be safe in OKC assisted living?
Assisted living communities not only help your loved one with activities of daily living but also work to keep them safe in a secure living environment. Approximately 85% of our OKC assisted living partners have secured entrances and exits to help ensure your loved one’s safety.[01] You can also rest easy knowing many OKC assisted living facilities have emergency call systems, so your loved one will receive immediate care in case of an emergency.
Being located in tornado alley and as one of the states with the most tornadoes annually, Oklahoma assisted living faces additional safety concerns. Many senior living facilities have storm shelters to help protect your loved one during weather emergencies.
How will my loved one be cared for in assisted living?
Assisted living partners in OKC add to the typical services with extra health care services. Residents can find specialized care in OKC assisted living with almost all — 95% — of our partners having visiting medical professionals, including the following:
- Nurses
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech therapists
- Podiatrists
Additionally, all of our partners provide diabetic care, and a majority have hospice care services.[01]
How does assisted living help my loved one continue living a fulfilling life?
Thanks to on-site activities and amenities, your loved one can continue living a fulfilling life at our partner communities. Approximately 80% of our assisted living partners hire an activity director to organize activities. All our partners help ensure your loved one enjoys their stay and provide the following types of on-site activity options:[01]
- Devotional activities
- Arts and crafts classes
- Cooking classes
- Trivia games
- Live musical performances
- Happy hours and holiday parties
- Educational speakers and lifelong learning opportunities
- (Chair) yoga
Residents can also enjoy on-site amenities, such as those listed below:
- Libraries
- TV lounges
- Beauty salons
- Arts and crafts centers
- Walking paths
- Enclosed courtyards
- Game rooms
Explore senior care with confidence
Know where to start.
Identify the right care for your loved one with our free assessment.
See what you can afford.
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Find top facilities for you.
Free, personalized guidance from our Senior Living Advisors can help you narrow your search.
Tour your favorite facilities.
Our free touring checklist can help you choose the right community.
Unfamiliar with Oklahoma City? Highlights for seniors
93,172
Amount of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Oklahoma City
Health care for seniors in Oklahoma City
Seniors and their families can access quality hospitals with specialized care in Oklahoma City. Below are a few health care systems in OKC recommended by patients.
INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center
Integris Baptist Medical Center is a distinguished hospital in Oklahoma City recommended by 75% of patients. Besides standard medical care, seniors can find specialized care for conditions common in older adults. For example, Integris has a stroke center, diabetes education team, and — as of 2024 — a comprehensive heart hospital.
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital — Oklahoma City
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital — Oklahoma City provides optimal care with a 69% patient approval rating. With an SSM Health Neurosciences and SSM Health Heart and Vascular Care office, the hospital provides specialized care for common conditions in older adults.
University of Oklahoma Medical Center
Seniors can find innovative care at the local university’s medical teaching hospital, the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, which has a 63% approval rating. Seniors in OKC rely on specialized geriatric care services through the hospital’s Oklahoma Center for Gerosciences and Healthy Brain Aging. Plus, the hospital is a part of Oklahoma’s Healthy Aging Initiative, a statewide network working to help seniors age healthily.
Transportation for seniors in Oklahoma City
All of our Oklahoma City assisted living partners provide on-site transportation services.[01] A majority of these are complimentary, but a handful of partners require an additional fee for rides that are not prescheduled. Either way, senior living transportation services are the safest options for residents.
Public transportation options
Outside of the community’s transportation options, OKC has safe alternatives for eligible seniors. SoonerCare recipients may be eligible for transportation services through SoonerRide. Otherwise, people with a physical or cognitive disability may be eligible to use Oklahoma City’s shared-ride public paratransit service, EMBARK Plus.
Visiting family members, friends, and loved ones also have access to a variety of local public transportation options:
- OKC’s local buses have several routes and schedules, but most run Monday through Sunday.
- The OKC Streetcar is ADA-accessible with low platforms. It has a total of 22 stops that are split between two streetcars. One streetcar travels downtown daily, while the other is available on weekends in Bricktown. Note: If you’re 65+ or have a disability, ask about reduced rates.
- The Oklahoma River Cruises have five landings in OKC, including Bricktown, Regatta Park, Stockyards, Exchange, and Meridian.
With these public transportation options, the downtown area is easily accessible, with a Walk Score of 72 out of 100. However, the greater city is still difficult to get around, so the city’s complete scores lower to the following:[08]
34
Walk Score
17
Transit Score
40
Bike Score
Senior activities in Oklahoma City
The large metropolis has a wide range of senior-friendly activities, with many including wheelchair-accessible options. Read on to learn more about what you can experience in Oklahoma City.
Shopping around OKC
Whether you’re looking for souvenirs or a bit of retail therapy, OKC is full of shopping galore. Oklahoma City is the home to the only outlet center in the state. OKC Outlets has over 85 stores for you and your loved one to explore. You can find also find local boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and events all in one place at the 16th Street Plaza District. Oklahoma City also has plenty of shopping malls and centers, including but not limited to the following:
Local restaurants
Oklahoma is known for its meat-loving culture, with Sooner Steak, country-fried steak, and barbeque being extremely popular. Since Oklahoma has abundant beef cattle, locally sourced beef, called Sooner Steak, is common. It’s also customary to try local barbeque joints in any Southern state, so OKC visitors and locals should definitely try the hearty barbeque options.
If meat’s not your thing, OKC offers a wide range of restaurants to explore.
Stockyards City
Whether you’re a visiting family member or a local senior resident, Stockyards City is a must-see in Oklahoma City. The area showcases OKC’s cowboy culture, with livestock walking the streets and local businesses lining the sidewalks. You’ll find local restaurants, shopping, and music throughout the area. Plus, the well-known music venue, Oklahoma Opry, is located in Stockyards City.
Music venues
You and your loved one can enjoy a variety of music venues, as Oklahoma City is home to country music stars and many other music lovers. Below are a couple of the best-known music venues with accessible seating:
- Civic Center Music Hall: From opera to Broadway musicals to comedians, the Civic Center offers a variety of options for entertainment. Wheelchairs must be stored outside the theater, but ushers will return them to visitors during intermission and at the end of the performance. Patrons may also be able to get a courtesy wheelchair on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- The Zoo Amphitheatre: This venue offers a diverse range of entertainers to enjoy in a picturesque location. Patrons can find accessible seating on the lawn, so purchase a GA lawn ticket. If your loved one is in a wheelchair, they can sit on the nearby large deck.
Museums
Oklahoma City is home to numerous museums providing educational exhibits on various cultures, hobbies, and interests. Many of these museums also prioritize accessibility. For example, the following museums have free wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-serve basis:
- National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, known as ‘The Cowboy,’ is a well-known, wheelchair-accessible museum providing insight into the local cowboy culture.
- Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum is a wheelchair-accessible museum dedicated to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in 1995. The outdoor memorial has few barriers for maximum accessibility.
- First Americans Museum Oklahoma: This museum features 39 different stories on the First American Nations. It helps those in wheelchairs navigate with a staff member guide through sensory-friendly areas that avoid bright lights and loud audio.
- Oklahoma City Museum of Art is a large art museum with various accessibility options, from OKCMOA Sensory Booster Packs for those with sensory issues to sighted guides for those with limited vision.
- Science Museum Oklahoma: A science museum with Oklahoma’s first dome-screen theater, it offers wheelchair reservations. Visitors can also reserve sensory kits.
Keep in mind, some accessible features may require reservations or prior notice. Many museums also offer senior discounts. Therefore, it’s important to ask museums about accessibility and discounts.
Sports stadiums
Oklahoma City locals fiercely support their sports teams, with the two primary teams offering accessible stadium seating. Oklahoma’s professional basketball team, Oklahoma City Thunder, plays at the wheelchair-accessible Paycom Center. Here, you or your loved one will have access to various accessible features, including those listed below:
- Accessible seating
- Wheelchair escorts
- Assistive listening devices
- Assisted drop-off at entrances closest to elevators
- Sensory inclusion room
- Service animals
Minor league baseball fans can enjoy watching the Dodgers in the ADA-accessible Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. This stadium has accessible seating options and elevators offering easy access.
Outdoor areas
While Oklahoma City is a bustling metropolis, it also provides a copious amount of outdoor opportunities. Here are a few of OKC’s outdoor spaces with accessible features:
- Scissortail Park is an ADA-accessible park spread across nearly 70 acres. The park has accessible features like parking, restrooms, pedal boats, pathways, and a limited amount of golf tours.
- All three OKC lakes — Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, and Lake Stanley Draper — have accessible fishing areas available year-round.
- Oklahoma City Zoo: The zoo is wheelchair-accessible, with wheelchair rentals available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Or, you and your loved one can rent an electric convenience vehicle to get around the 130-acre zoo.
- Myriad Botanical Gardens is the local 15-acre botanical garden with a conservatory. Some areas have accessible paths. Remember to ask about possible discounts for seniors or veterans. However, the outdoor grounds are free to enter.
Frequently asked questions
Rivermont Assisted Living Memory Care, Village on the Park at Oklahoma City and Arbor House of Midwest City are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near Oklahoma City, OK. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in Oklahoma City is 4565.32 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Oklahoma City city. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Continuum of Care and Assisted Living. 63 Oklahoma State Department of Health § 1-890.1. (1997).
Residential Care Homes. 63 Oklahoma State Department of Health § 1-104 and 1-819. (1991).
Oklahoma State Department of Health. (2021, June 22). Corbett visitation guidance.
Oklahoma Legislature. (2021, April 21). House Bill No. 2566.
Health Grades. (2023). Hospitals near Oklahoma City, OK.
Walk Score. Living in Oklahoma City.
Donovan, L. (2023, April 28). Personal communication [Phone interview].
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