Nursing homes and assisted living in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, senior care costs less than in much of the country, and Medicaid has a program that helps both at home and in assisted living. Here we explain the official names, how to apply for help and who to call.

What care settings are called here

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) issues the state license for these places. These are the names you'll hear:

• Nursing Facility: a nursing home, with nursing care 24 hours a day.
• Assisted Living Center: assisted living. It helps with personal care, medicines and getting around, with nursing supervision and occasional nursing care, but without 24-hour skilled nursing.
• Residential Care Home: a residence that provides room, meals and help with eating, dressing and bathing. It can help with medicines, but it doesn't provide medical care. It's the closest thing to a board and care home.
• Adult Day Care Center: an adult day center for adults who sleep at home and spend part of the day at the center.
• Continuum of Care Facility: a place that combines a nursing home with assisted living or an adult day center.

How Medicaid helps in Oklahoma

Oklahoma's Medicaid is called SoonerCare. For people who qualify, it pays for a nursing home. In addition, the ADvantage Waiver is a Medicaid waiver that offers alternatives to a nursing home. It's run by Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS).

• Who can qualify: people 65 and older, or ages 19 to 64 with a physical disability, who qualify financially for SoonerCare and need the level of care a nursing home provides.
• What it includes: personal care at home, nursing, home-delivered meals, adult day care, home modifications and also assisted living. Assisted living is offered only at places that have a contract with OKDHS, and you must first be a member of the program.
• How to apply: online from the program's web page, at a local OKDHS office or by phone with the Medicaid Services Unit: 1-800-435-4711. Applying by phone is a short interview.

If you're already in the program, talk with your case manager (the person who coordinates your services).

How much care costs in Oklahoma

According to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (tables published March 2, 2026), the median costs in Oklahoma are:

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom apartment): $6,150 a month.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $231 a day (about $7,026 a month).
• Nursing home, private room: $255 a day (about $7,756 a month).
• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $33 an hour.
• Adult day center: $92 a day.

Nursing home care in Oklahoma costs much less than the national median ($315 a day for a semi-private room). Even so, each place has its own prices.

Who to call

• Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-800-211-2116. Since November 2024, the program has been part of the Attorney General's office. The ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of nursing homes, assisted living and residential care homes.
• Oklahoma Human Services: 405-522-5050. OKDHS publishes a map of the Area Agencies on Aging so you can find the office for your region.
• Eldercare Locator (national): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Check the license with the OSDH Health Facility Systems office, which publishes the directory of licensed places. Its phone number is 405-426-8175. Checking licenses and inspections is a normal step that helps you choose with peace of mind.
• If you plan to use ADvantage for assisted living, ask on your first visit whether the place has a contract with OKDHS.
• Consider an adult day center if your loved one still lives at home and you work. It usually costs less than a full-time residence.
• Ask about language. If your loved one speaks only Spanish, ask whether anyone on staff speaks it too.
• Always check with OKDHS or OSDH, because requirements change. This page is for information only and does not replace advice from a professional.

Below, you can see care facilities in Oklahoma on hogaresparamayores.com and compare options near you.