FeaturedOklahoma City is the capital of Oklahoma, known for its rich “cowboy culture” and its stunning capital complex, which is famously surrounded by working oil wells. The area is home to dozens of historical landmarks, museums, and other unique points-of-interest, along with useful resources like grocery stores, world-class restaurants, and more. As the state’s capital, residents have easy access to almost anything they can imagine.
Along with many resources and you need points of interest, Oklahoma City is home to a wide variety of senior living communities, including assisted living. Before a residence can provide housing or services oh, they must receive proper licensing to do so through the state of Oklahoma. This guide will detail Oklahoma's regulations for assisted living communities so families can know what to expect before they move in.
Oklahoma City Assisted Living
In Oklahoma, the Department of Health, Protective Health Services, and Long-term Care Services licenses residential Care Homes and assisted living communities. In general, a senior living residence may qualify as an assisted living center or Residential Care Home if it houses four or more residents who are not related to the owner or administrator.
Long-term care communities are grouped into two categories depending on the number of people they serve in the personal care services they provide:
assisted living centers are defined as senior living communities that coordinate or provide personal care services to at least two people who need assistance with their activities of daily living by choice or due to functional impairments. assisted living residents may need medication assistance, intermittent nursing care, or assistance with ambulation.
Residential Care Homes are similar to assisted living communities, but provide a lesser degree of assistance. They provide supportive care and accommodations for residents who are ambulatory and who are largely self-sufficient.
Assisted living centers in Residential Care Homes may only admit residence for whom they can adequately assist. If an individual's needs exceed those the facility is equipped to provide for, the residence is not permitted to admit or retain them. Potential residents may also be denied from an assisted living center if they require physical or chemical restraints as prescribed by a doctor, if they pose a threat to themselves or two other residents, or if the community is unable to meet their personal needs for dignity and privacy.
Assisted living centers must provide assistance with personal care, intermittent or unscheduled nursing care, Nursing supervision, medication administration, assistance with ambulation, social events and activities, housekeeping services, laundry assistance, and services for residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Residential Care Homes are subject to different regulations, which require they provide housekeeping services, assistance with medications, and personal care. Personal care generally includes assistance with a resident’s activities of daily living, light eating, dressing, bathing, or maintaining their personal hygiene.
Assisted Living vs. Other Types of Long-Term Care in Oklahoma City
As families approached retirement, they have a variety of options to choose from regarding long-term care. Community-based care isn't exclusive to assisted living centers and Residential Care Homes. In fact, Oklahoma City is home to several different types of long-term care, each offering its own unique services and amenities tailored to their residence.
For many retiring individuals, assisted living is the right choice for care. assisted living provides individuals with daily assistance, making it possible for them to get through their day safely and adequately. Some people choose to move into assisted living because they believe personal care services will help them, while others move into assisted living because they require the assistance of another person.
If a person does not require the assistance of another individual and they want the benefits of community-based living, They may consider an independent living community instead of a residential care home. Independent living communities and assisted living communities are similar, but offer unique experiences for residents based on their needs.
Independent living communities offer social activities, transportation services, and housekeeping, similarly to assisted living centers Residential Care Homes. However, they do not provide the same level of daily assistance as these types of communities and are ideal for residents who can maintain their daily affairs without help from another person. In many cases, Independent Living isn't much different than living in a private residence.
Nursing homes offer an entirely different level of care than assisted living or Independent Living, offering in-depth skilled nursing care for those with ongoing medical conditions. If a person has a chronic illness or injury and needs continuous assistance managing their condition, a nursing home may be the most fitting option for long-term care. Nursing homes are subject Unique staffing requirements, that make them more suitable for those who need ongoing medical attention.
The right type of community is different for everyone, and it's important for families to investigate the different types of long-term care residences in Oklahoma City before they move in. To learn more, families should consider talking to their healthcare providers and their potential communities to learn more about the level of long-term care they need.
Standard assisted living amenities in Oklahoma City
Just as assisted living communities and Residential Care Homes in Oklahoma City are required to provide certain personal care services, they may also provide additional amenities to create a resort-style experience for their residents. These amenities vary by community but may include convenient resources like:
Libraries
Computer centers with internet
Community living rooms with large TVs and comfortable furniture
Arts and crafts rooms
Gardens and walking trails
Themed diners
Hair salons, spas, and barber shops
In Oklahoma, assisted living centers are required to provide three daily meals for each resident. These communities must work with a licensed dietitian or a qualified nutritionist to develop their diet plan and adequately address each resident’s individual needs.
Residential Care Homes are also required to provide three nutritious meals for each resident per day, and they must work with a trained dietitian if they house residents with special dietary needs.
At both assisted living Centers and Residential Care Homes, residents are entitled to nutritious meals that accommodate their special dietary needs. For example, a person with a low sodium diet as prescribed by a physician must have access to meals that meet their needs at their Long-Term Care community. The same principle applies to religious restrictions - if a person requires kosher meals or additional modifications due to their religious beliefs, their Long-Term Care Community must customize their ingredients accordingly.
Assisted living apartments in Oklahoma City
In Oklahoma, the state regulates which types of apartments assisted living centers and Residential Care Homes must provide for their residents.
At assisted living centers, apartment-style units with private bedrooms are not required. Up to two people may share a bedroom at an assisted living center, with no more than four residents sharing the bathing and toilet facilities.
Additionally, Residential Care Homes are not required to provide apartment-style units with private bedrooms. There are no limitations to how many residents make sure one bedroom, although a toilet must be provided for every 6 residents, and a shower or tub must be provided for every 10 residents.
If a person participates in a Medicaid waiver program to pay for long-term care, they must live in an apartment style unit. In these situations, residents are welcome to share their unit if they choose to do so.
Along with the amenities and resources required by the state of Oklahoma, many assisted living centers and Residential Care Homes provide additional and unit amenities for their residents. These amenities vary by community but may include exciting resources like:
Individually controlled heating and air conditioning
Cable and internet hookups
Patios or balconies
Kitchens
Storage
Senior living apartments are normally unfurnished when residents move in, giving them the freedom to decorate however they please. It's important for families to tour a community before committing so they can see which types of apartments they offer, and know for sure whether the living arrangements will meet their needs.
Things to do in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is a large metropolitan area with a lot to do. Famous as the capital of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City is known for its cowboy culture and its unique downtown architecture. Located in the southwestern United States, Oklahoma City's weather is fair and warm year-round, making it an ideal location for those who enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing.
One of the city's most popular destinations is the Myriad Botanical Gardens, located on more than 17 Acres of an interactive urban park in downtown Oklahoma City. The Gardens are home to a variety of densely landscaped sections, surrounding a picturesque something Lake. Guests can enjoy a variety of unique activities at the gardens, depending on the day of their visit.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is another popular destination in Oklahoma City, with more than 28,000 Western and Native American artifacts on display. The museum also houses the world's most expensive collection of American Rodeo photographs, Saddlery, early Rodeo trophies, and barbed wire. The Museum's goal is to teach the general public about the American West Rich history, so they can walk away with a better understanding of cowboy culture.
Looking for fun for the whole family? The Oklahoma City Zoo is a must-see, home to more than 1,900 different animals. The zoo spans 119 acres, and is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The zoo offers permanent exhibits and one of a kind of events that happen daily, including educational events in animal shows.
The Frontier City theme park is another popular destination in Oklahoma City, owned and operated by Six Flags entertainment. The park opened in 1958, and has been offering up thrills ever since. along with exciting rides and roller coasters, the park is home to a variety of unique events, including concerts and more.
Funding assisted living in Oklahoma City
When families are considering assisted living centers or Residential Care Homes for long-term care, financing becomes an important question. For some, pain for long-term care is as easy as using a personal savings account or a retirement fund, but for others additional planning is necessary. Fortunately, there are a variety of programs available to help families pay for long-term care, including insurance policies and government subsidized benefits.
In recent years, long-term care insurance has become one of the most popular ways to pay for assisted living. Long-term care insurance offers a unique, affordable way to pay for community-based care, helping families save money with the right policy. Having a long-term care insurance policy also takes the stress out of paying for assisted Living, covering the costs at eligible communities.
However, the price of a long-term care insurance policy can vary greatly depending on a person's age. The farther away a person is from retirement age when they purchase their policy, the less they can expect to pay in monthly premiums. The farther in advance a person purchases their long-term care insurance policy, the more they can expect to save on monthly premiums.
Additionally, government-subsidized programs exist to help families pay for long-term care in Oklahoma City. Individuals who qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for a waiver to cover the cost of assisted living.
In Oklahoma, this benefit is known as the ADvantage waiver program. the waiver is available for Oklahoma residents who are financially eligible for a SoonerCare plan, who are at least 65 years of age(or who qualify as a disabled adult as determined by the Social Security Administration), and must require a nursing home level of care. if a person is not financially eligible for Medicaid in Oklahoma, they may not qualify for the ADvantage waiver program.
The Department of Veterans Affairs also offers a benefit for retiring American citizens, available to those who served in the United States armed forces during a time of war who are not dishonorably discharged. The benefit, known as the aid and attendance program, is designed to help qualifying veterans pay for long-term care when they require the assistance of another person.
Aid and attendance is available to Veterans who qualify for the VA's standard monthly pension award and is reserved for qualifying veterans who need assistance to complete their activities of daily living. The award is paid out as a cash benefit each month, and recipients are welcome to use it for any facet of long-term care that they please. For more information, veterans and their families should contact the appropriate VA caseworker to ask questions about eligibility, or they should visit the VA's informational webpage about the aid and attendance program.