Oklahoma is known as Sooner State, and there are many reasons that one would choose to live here, especially later in life when it’s time to look into senior care, assisted living, and memory care options in Oklahoma. If you’re coming from out of state, or deciding to stay put, we’ll cover everything  you need to know, including information about Medicaid in Oklahoma.

By the end of this page, you’ll have a good idea what to look for when it comes to assisted living in Oklahoma, not only the basics and some stats and facts, but how to interpret them and how to compare them to other states to find the best fit.

We strongly believe that a key aspect of choosing an assisted care program is not just about finding the “best” one, but about finding the one that’s a best fit for the individual when it comes to meeting their unique needs and requirements. Comfort, health, safety, they’re all very important, as is finding a place with care philosophies that make sense to you, but it’s almost important to enjoy your new home, and to live in a place that suits your interests and personality. Let’s go over a few of the fun things to do and see in Oklahoma first, then some vital facts, and then we’ll jump right into the more specific details about seeking senior care in Oklahoma.

An important part of your overall health revolves around having things to look forward to, and frankly enjoying your life, especially while you still have mobility. Sitting around in a room, watching tv all day, we strongly believe that this will age you faster than continuing to learn new things, have new experiences, and so far. As such, while in Oklahoma, make sure you check out some things like the Myriad Botanical Gardens, The Museum of Osteology, The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, along with the countless outdoor parks and gardens to enjoy.

If you enjoy the outdoors, camping, hunting, fishing, or just going for a nice walk… this is one of your best bets in America.

There’s plenty of time for planning things to do, but for now let’s get right into it the key facts to know and understand about senior care, along with what sorts of questions you should ask an assisted living facility once they’ve made it to your short list.

Quick Facts about Oklahoma

• The largest city is also the state capital, Oklahoma City. Easy to remember!
• For total area, Oklahoma has 69,897 square miles, which ranks in 20^th place.
• The total population of the state of Oklahoma, according to estimates from 2016, is 3,923,561 which places it as the 28^th most populated state in America.
• The per capita personal income in Oklahoma is $32,210 which ranks in 37^th place, however this number is growing the third faster in the country, so expect Oklahoma to be climbing that list in the coming years.
• Oklahoma has incredibly weather, it’s sunny most days, and even the coldest months aren’t that bad.

Types of Assisted Living in Oklahoma

Assisted living services in Oklahoma include things such as supervision, help with mobility, assistance with medication, basis personal care like hygiene, laundry, and so on. If a resident requires additional levels of care, they may also be available, depending on what is needed. It’s crucial to find a facility that can meet your needs, or the needs of your loved one, and that is why doing the research that you are doing right now is so critically important. We try to keep everything as simple and self-explanatory as possible, but we’ll also give you some tips on finding additional information and how to choose a great senior care home.

Facilities may also cater to those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other cognitive issues. Faculties that offer this additional care need to meet more stringent criteria, they must keep a detailed plan and outline about their residents and their needs, and they need to have at least two staff member son duty at any given time. You never know what issues or challenges may arise, and it’s better to be over prepared than not prepared at all.

Requirements for Moving in or Moving Out

Initial assessment information: There is a specific form that is filled out for the initial assessment to determine what types of services and assistance a potential resident requires, and once again, to ensure that their facility-of-choice is able to meet their needs.

There are also a number of events or conditions that could cause somebody to be asked to leave a care facility, and generally speaking, as with any state, it comes down to if the resident is posing a risk to their own health, safety, and comfort, or the health, safety, and comfort of other residents. If someone is deemed dangerous, they’ll need additional levels of care that most assisted living facilities simply aren’t equipped to provide. It’s always unfortunate to have to relocate somebody, but the comfort and safety of all other residents is also a priority.

General Information About Care

Bathroom requirements: There must be a complete washroom available for every four residents, however exceptions can be made by the Department of Health to have a lower ratio. Showers or bathtubs can be shared, as well. Make sure you ask about the particular ratio in any facility that you’re considering, and we tend to always favor those who offer residents their own private washrooms. In some cases, that can be cost prohibitive, and it’s definitely not the be all end all, but we feel like there’s just a certain extra comfort and feeling of home that comes from not having to share such a personal space with other people, especially when it’s a washroom shared by eight, ten, or even more than that like we’ve seen in certain other states.

Medication handling: Care givers are allowed to administer medication for residents, however if they aren’t licensed as nurses or similar designations, they’re required to take a special training course about how to administer medication properly.

Fire and Safety information: Facilities are inspected to ensure that they’re adhering to a variety of fire and safety regulations and guidelines, which include the proper use of fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and smoke detectors as outlined by local and state laws and building codes.

Staff Training and Requirements

Staff that work directly with residents need to be proficient and up to date in their first aid training and have completed the CNA training program, which would designate them as a certified nurse’s aide. Beyond that, training depends on the specific role a staff member is hired to fill, for instance somebody working in memory care will need to learn about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other cognitive disorders and how to properly address them from a care giver’s point of view.

Medicaid for Assisted Living in Oklahoma and Additional Information

Oklahoma does have a Medicaid waiver available, and for more information on assisted living in this state, you can reach out to the Protective Health Service, which operates under the Oklahoma State Department of Health.