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As the capital of Oklahoma and the largest metropolitan area in the state, Oklahoma City (OKC) is ideal for seniors looking to retire. The city captures true cowboy culture and is rich with cultural heritage while still having convenient big-city luxuries. While this large metropolis may look expensive, it offers an amenity-rich yet budget-friendly living environment. With its affordable cost of living, this area is a great place for seniors and their families.
In this guide, you’ll learn about senior apartments available within a 15-mile radius of downtown Oklahoma City. However, there is a lack of senior apartments in OKC, and a majority of the available options are through public housing. A senior apartment is ideal for independent retirees who wish to downsize and let go of the stressors of home ownership. Unlike independent living, services are paired down and costs are kept low at these apartment communities. If you’re looking for more services than these communities provide and have more to spend, then you may find our guide to independent living in Oklahoma City beneficial.
With this guide, we can help you understand local senior apartment costs, how you can pay, and what types of regulations the facilities must follow. Additionally, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to retire in OKC, with detailed information on local health care systems, all kinds of senior benefits, and many local senior-friendly activities.
Types of care available in Oklahoma City, OK
Senior Apartments
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
The meals and dining service is not included and I do not know really of any activities they may have going on. The cook outs they told us about sounded lovely. We would recommend the Sage Cobblestone community to other families who made need a place for their loved ones.
It is so clean, it is the best one that we saw and one of the main reasons we chose them was because of how clean it is. They are remodeling too! There are only about 20 people here so the staff to resident ratio is amazing. The main staff are very friendly. My cousin was not doing anything for herself, but now since moving here she is doing a lot more things by herself. The staff are attentive and answer any questions we have quickly. If she does not like what is on the menu they will fix her something else, they try very hard. The maintenence guy and the main nurse of some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They go above and beyond. The only complaint I have is the rise in the cost of rent, it is going above the inflation rate for the amount of time that our loved one has been here.
7535 West Hefner Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73162
At Northhaven Place, one of our pet friendly senior living communities in Oklahoma City, we work hard to offer quality care in assisting our residents with their daily routine, while respecting their independence. We develop individual care plans to meet the needs of each resident, and a...
My loved one was previously a resident at Morada Lake Hefner and the experience was not too bad overall. The value for cost was good. Based on our experience, I would recommend Morada Lake Hefner to others.
4101 N Council Rd, Bethany, OK 73008
Exceptional Senior Living for Exceptional SeniorsYou have a lot of options for senior living in Oklahoma, but not many of them feel like this. Our seniors live life well, with a huge range of activities to keep them busy throughout the day, and a huge social circle to help them enjoy their life...
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...
2101 S Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73109
1316 NE 12th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73117
3825 NW 19th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73107
2325 SW 59th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73119
3308 SW 44th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73119
3540 NW 56th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
7507 S Ross Ave Bldg 8, Oklahoma City, OK 73159
500 Adair Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73110
Senior apartments in Oklahoma City have a wide range of rental costs. Some senior apartments see monthly rental costs as low as $640 while others go as high as $3,600. Monthly rates generally vary depending on the following:
The baseline monthly cost for a senior apartment typically includes the following:
19.84 miles from you
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17.63 miles from you
Most retirees pay for senior apartments like they would any other type of apartment — with personal income sources and savings. Additional financial assistance programs, like veterans and Social Security benefits, can mitigate a senior’s costs of living. Some seniors also use public benefits like Medicare and Medicaid to help pay for in-home health care services.
Here you’ll learn more about the different payment options and how veterans benefits, housing assistance, Medicare, and Medicaid can help you with rental or in-home health care costs.
Seniors typically start by looking at their personal income sources like savings, Social Security benefits, investment returns, and pensions. However, there are other ways to save money and pay for an apartment, such as those mentioned below:
Senior apartments typically follow regular apartment laws and regulations since they’re not senior care facilities. These regulations help protect your rights, reduce discrimination, and provide safe living environments. You should always get a rental agreement in writing to refer to and use as a guideline for your rights as a tenant.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits Oklahoma landlords from discriminating against residents. This Act helps protect you from discrimination regarding race, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, etc. However, most senior apartments in Oklahoma City have a minimum age requirement for their renters. This helps distinguish senior apartments from regular apartments by requiring residents to be aged 55+ or 65+.
Landlords in Oklahoma have strict requirements they must follow by law, such as providing a safe, clean, and habitable living environment. This includes keeping the following in good condition:
Landlords must quickly repair any issues inside the apartment and within common areas. However, landlords must give 24-hour notice before entering an occupied apartment, unless it’s an emergency. Similarly, in public housing HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center inspections are conducted every one to three years, and landlords must fix any issues that are found during inspections.
While landlords have their own set of rules, so do tenants. As a tenant, you must ensure the previously mentioned utilities provided are maintained and used in a safe manner. Otherwise, a landlord can make a range of requests — from billing you for repairs to terminating your rental agreement.
If your landlord does not provide livable units, repairs, or essential utilities, you may be able to deduct money from your rent (if you repair it yourself), bill your landlord, or terminate the lease. However, this depends on your landlord’s response to your written notice of the current issue and whether the apartment is unlivable.
Before you make any decisions, it’s a good idea to consult with a local housing association or attorney. This way you can make sure you negotiate the best outcome for yourself according to your lease, so you do not suffer any unforeseen outcomes.
While Oklahoma City is located in tornado alley and is in the top three states known for tornadoes, the law does not require storm shelters for commercial or residential buildings. Though it’s not legally required, some senior apartments may still have storm shelters or doors to help protect residents from storms.
In addition to storm shelters, flooding can be caused by a recent storm. For this reason, landlords must include any flooding within the past five years in your written lease. If this information is not in the lease and a flood occurs during your tenancy, the landlord is liable for flood damages.
Yes. As federal law mandates, landlords must provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. However, a landlord doesn’t have to make accommodations if it will alter programs, create an undue financial burden, or cause an administrative burden. Reasonable accommodations may include but are not limited to the following:
Additionally, apartment buildings with more than four units built after March 13, 1991, must have accessible designs for the following:
For more information, visit the Office of Disability Concerns resource guide to housing for people with disabilities in Oklahoma.
Yes. If you have a disability that requires a service animal, you can request to receive accommodations, even if your complex has a no pet policy. That being said, landlords can request proof of your need for a service animal.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to relax their COVID-19 guidelines, so do individual states, like Oklahoma. However, the Oklahoma Department of Health (ODOH) has recommendations for high-risk people, like seniors, and for those who test positive for COVID-19.
Seniors are considered at higher risk for severe COVID-19 infection, so the ODOH recommends additional precautions. Higher risk individuals should do the following:
Additionally, the ODOH still recommends everyone continues wearing masks in public, but this is up to each person’s preference and business requirements.
The Oklahoma Department of Health can help you determine how long you should isolate and quarantine through their COVID-19 infection calculator. Below is a summary of Oklahoma’s recommendations for what to do if you test positive for COVID-19.
Masking. On day six, you can continue normal activities, but the ODOH recommends you continue wearing a mask in public for five more days. If you can’t wear a mask, isolate for 10 days.
Quarantining. You should isolate for five days from when you first noticed symptoms, or, if you have no symptoms, from the day you tested positive. If you have symptoms, the ODOH recommends you wait until symptoms improve and you’ve not had a fever for 24 hours.
Vaccinations. The ODOH helps seniors who are homebound receive in-home COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.
While there are a limited amount of senior apartments in OKC, many seniors in this area may choose independent living, considering there are more senior living options. That being said, the city still has a small number of senior apartments with a broad range of atmospheres, from affordable to conveniently comfortable. You can find cost-friendly, simple yet safe senior apartments, as well as modern, amenity-filled options. Plus, public housing organizations in Oklahoma City offer access to similar services that are typically provided in an independent living community.
Read on to learn more about what it’s like to retire in an Oklahoma City senior apartment.
Oklahoma City’s senior apartment options maintain a set standard with certain features and amenities. Only a couple apartment complexes offer studios or three-bedroom units; senior apartments in OKC typically offer one- and two-bedroom units with the following features:
OKC senior apartments do not have consistent standards for parking. Depending on the apartment building, there may be an on-site parking lot or off-street parking. Additionally, most senior apartments in OKC are pet-friendly but have various pet policies and restrictions. So it’s important to ask the landlord about their specific policies, especially if you require a service or therapy pet.
Many of these standard apartments also add on some type of feature to combining comfort and convenience. While features depend on the apartment complex, they can all help residents feel at home in their newly downsized living space. Some examples include the following:
A majority of the senior apartments in OKC, outside of affordable housing options, go beyond the local standards by adding extra amenities to their buildings and units. These complexes go above and beyond by walking the fine line between independent living and senior apartments. In OKC, you can find age-friendly apartments with these lavish on-site amenities that promote leisure and relaxation:
The small amount of senior apartments in OKC are scattered throughout the area, but most are outside the downtown area. Instead, they are nestled in smaller parts of OKC and the following suburbs:
These suburbs are not in view of the city skyline and instead rest in cozy and quaint neighborhoods. As the heart of the Bible Belt, Oklahoma City has churches on nearly every corner, including these suburbs. Our research shows that most OKC senior apartments are nearby at least one church.
Oklahoma City has multiple affordable public housing options for senior apartments through the Oklahoma City Housing Authority and Volunteers of America Oklahoma (VOA), a nonprofit organization funded by the federal and state government and various donations. In fact, a majority of senior apartments in Oklahoma City are budget-friendly public housing options. Between the two of these affordable options, there are 10 senior apartments in OKC. These apartments provide typical senior apartment features, like maintenance, utilities, and added security.
Most of these public senior housing options are unfurnished studios with open floor plans and one-bedroom apartments. Additionally, Oklahoma City Housing Authority properties offer access to a service coordinator who can help you find services like the following:
These properties also have their own senior community center, where you have access to meal programs and planned activities. This is similar to life in an independent living community, just without automatic access to services like meals and housekeeping.
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Number of seniors over the age of 55 currently living in Oklahoma City
Percentage of seniors 55 and older within the Oklahoma City population[01]
Mean Social Security income for Oklahoma City seniors 60 and older{{citation:7}}
In Oklahoma City, you can find specialized care for common adult conditions and senior care, as well as home health services from these distinguished hospitals. Below are a few of the highly recommended OKC health care options.
INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center
Integris Baptist Medical Center is highly recommended in the Oklahoma City area, with approximately 75% of patients recommending the hospital. The hospital has multiple specialized care services that help treat common conditions and issues older adults experience through their well-known rehabilitation center, as well as their stroke center and diabetes education team.
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital — Oklahoma City
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital — Oklahoma City is a well-known hospital with a 69% approval rating from patients. The hospital offers specialized care for common conditions in seniors through their SSM Health Neurosciences and SSM Health Heart and Vascular Care programs.
University of Oklahoma Medical Center
The University of Oklahoma Medical Center is the University of Oklahoma’s teaching hospital — the only teaching hospital in the state. Here you’ll find innovative care with a 63% recommendation rate from patients. The hospital system offers advanced geriatric care services and conducts research through the Oklahoma Center for Gerosciences and Healthy Brain Aging. This includes Oklahoma’s Healthy Aging Initiative, a statewide network to help seniors age healthily and stay in their homes longer.
Since Oklahoma City is such a large metropolis, most locals have their own means of transportation to get around the area. If you don’t own your own vehicle, there are still ways to get around OKC. A majority of public transportation options are provided through EMBARK — the local transit system with a variety of different options, like the following:
While the downtown area of Oklahoma City is easily accessible with a Walk Score of 72, the overall metropolitan area is more difficult. Below are Oklahoma City’s scores out of 100, outlining the ease of ways to get around the city.
34
17
40
Whether you’re looking for historical museums or exciting water rafting, you’ll find something to enjoy in OKC. Oklahoma City includes something for everyone, from exploring the cowboy heritage to vibrant murals throughout the city. Here you’ll find just a few of the opportunities you can experience when you retire in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City recently opened four MAPS 3 Senior Health and Wellness Centers, with the most recent built in 2022. These senior centers offer seniors a place where they can find important services and socialize with peers. While programs depend on the senior center, they all offer a wide range of senior-friendly activities, which can include the following:
From Western heritage to art galleries, you’ll explore numerous museums in Oklahoma City. The area is mainly known for its cowboy culture. And this culture is highlighted in its National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, affectionately called “The Cowboy.” The next most well-known museum in Oklahoma City is the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylor Pickens Museum. This museum offers a diverse array of interactive permanent exhibits and ever-changing special exhibits.
You can learn more about art, science, history, and First American cultures by visiting one of the many museums OKC has to offer:
The locals fiercely support their OKC teams. Whether you’re looking for professional or collegiate teams, Oklahoma City has both. Basketball fans can enjoy supporting the Oklahoma City Thunder, while baseball fans will enjoy the local minor league team, the Dodgers.
While Oklahoma is landlocked, it’s still known for its exciting water activities. One of the most well-known companies to offer water adventures in OKC is Riversport. You’ll be able to enjoy a variety of splashes and calming waters alike with activities like those below:
Besides Riversport adventures, the various area lakes enable you to enjoy fishing, boating, and water skiing. OKC is home to three lakes: Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, and Lake Stanley Draper. However, there are other nearby fishing lakes and ponds as well, including the following:
Oklahoma City was recently ranked No. 1 in the United States for its street art by USA Today readers. Colorful murals are splashed across the city, providing vibrancy for locals and visitors. On every corner, you can find beautiful murals spread throughout districts from Bricktown to Plaza. The Visit Oklahoma City page even has a guide to local street art.
As the birthplace of famous country music stars, Oklahoma City has music venues with country music and more. Whether you’re looking for a well-known country music singer or local up-and-coming bands, you’ll find live music to enjoy year-round. Some of the notable live music venues include the following:
Sage Cobblestone, Marie Mc Guire Plaza and Andrews Square are the top-rated Senior Apartments facilities near Oklahoma City, OK. These Senior Apartments facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Senior Apartments in Oklahoma City is 2,693 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Oklahoma City city. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Oklahoma City, OK HUD metro FMR area. FY 2022 Income Limits Documentation System.
Landlord and Tenant, Oklahoma Senate § 41 (2022).
State of Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission. (2009). Minimum state requirements for storm shelters.
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. Section 1: Disability laws and complaint procedures.
Oklahoma State Department of Health. COVID-19 frequently asked questions.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population 60 years and over in The United States: Oklahoma City city. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
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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