Oklahoma, nicknamed The Sooner State, has much to offer members of the state’s retirement communities. Whether seeking outdoor activities, the arts or sports there are options for every interest.

The state is home to four mountain ranges: Arbuckle, Wichita, Ozark and Ouachita, giving members of Oklahoma retirement communities plenty of options to enjoy nature and the outdoors. The state also has over 200 lakes, most of which are man made. For the adventurous, a hike to the highest point in the state, Black Mesa State Park, is a sixteen-mile round-trip experience.

Oklahoma City is the state’s largest city and offers members of Oklahoma retirement communities many choices when it comes to activities. Sports fans can watch the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team, the state’s only major league sports franchise. The city is also home to the Oklahoma City Ballet and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Horse shows are also a popular attraction in Oklahoma City with the city hosting many national and international events.

Tribal headquarters for 39 Native American tribes are located in Oklahoma and the state is second to California in the size of its Native American population.1 The non-profit, Red Earth, showcases the history and traditions of Native Americans with a museum and several annual festivals.

Members of Oklahoma retirement communities have many delicious options when it comes to dining. The state is known for such foods as barbeque, fried okra, cornbread and steak. Oklahoma even has an official state meal that includes chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, corn and pecan pie. For fans of Sonic Drive-In, the chain started in Shawnee and is now headquartered in Oklahoma City.

1.https://www.travelok.com/pages/fun-facts

Taxes in Oklahoma

The state sales tax is 4.5%. Local tax rates average 4.45% but can be as high as 7.0% for a maximum rate of 11.5%. Income is taxed at several levels. The first is .5% for income up to $2,000. The next is 1% for income from $2,000 to $5,000. Next is 2% for income from $5,000 to $7,500. The fourth break is 3% from $7,500 – $9,800. Next is 4% for incomes between $9,800 and $12,200 and 5% for incomes above $12,200. Social Security income is not taxable.

Retirement Communities In Oklahoma

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) and Lifecare Communities in Oklahoma offer seniors age 55+ a residence that allows them to be independent and active today but are equipped to provide for their future healthcare needs.

Today’s seniors have many retirement housing options. Deciding where to live is one of the most important and complex decisions one will make. Making these decisions while still healthy can help you avoid difficult and costly situations in the future.

Find Continuing Care Retirement Communities in Oklahoma

Options for Retiring in Oklahoma

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are sometimes referred to as Full Service Retirement Communities or Life Plan communities, they are the only type of retirement community that offer residents independent living when they enter the community with the security of having assisted living and/or skilled nursing care options on site.

Oklahoma CCRCs or Life Plan communities generally offer various accommodations including apartments, townhomes, and cottages. These communities often include common activity areas such as a restaurant-style dining room, a library, activity and craft rooms, an assisted living facility, and a nursing home. Other amenities can include swimming pools, a fitness center, golf courses, convenience stores, walking trails, gardens, beauty/barber shops, banking services and guest accommodations.

Regulating CCRCs In Oklahoma

Currently thirty-eight states regulate CCRCs through various state divisions such as insurance, financial services, aging or elder services, or social services. For those states that regulate CCRCs the mandatory requirements and degree of oversight vary drastically from one state to another. Because of the varying requirements vetting each community individually is the safest way to insure a community is in good standing.

In Oklahoma CCRCs are regulated by the State Department of Health.

Selecting A CCRC In Oklahoma

Most CCRCs in Oklahoma have entrance requirements; they vary by location but may include some or all of the following:

  • Entry fee to cover the housing unit’s cost and other services and amenities, including contractually provided access to health care. The entry fee may also help keep monthly services fees lower than they might be at a comparable rental community.
  • Assets and savings equal to a multiple of the entry fee. A typical range is between 2-4 times the entry fee, but this can vary, and CCRCs often have a more detailed financial qualification process.
  • A will, healthcare power of attorney, and durable power of attorney.
  • Minimum age requirements, as allowed by the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA).
  • Monthly income equal to a multiple of the monthly service fee. The range is usually similar to that required for assets and savings. Again, a more detailed qualification process may take place.
  • Medical reviews. Providers will often request medical records, talk with a prospective resident’s primary care physician, or request a health exam. The specific type of contract offered by the community will determine the degree of emphasis placed on this requirement.
  • Medicare and possibly a Medicare supplement policy, or a similar private-pay plan.

Entry Fee Requirements For Oklahoma CCRCs

Most CCRCs or Life Plan Communities in Oklahoma require an entry fee. The entry fee is required for several reasons. First and foremost, it secures a resident’s contractual and priority access to the care they may need while living in the community. The money received from entry fees is also used to help pay down, or limit, the amount of debt required for development, expansion, or long-term capital projects, which keep the community attractive and competitive in the marketplace and also benefits current residents. A portion of the entry fee may go towards an endowment fund set up by the community. An endowment fund is used by many CCRCs- particularly non-profit providers- offer a financial assistance to help ensure that if a resident runs out of money due to a longer than average stay in the healthcare facility, or some other unforeseen circumstance, they will not be forced to leave the community.

Is An Oklahoma Life Plan Retirement Community Right For You?

A CCRC or Life Plan Community in Oklahoma might be a good fit for you or a loved one, you can get detailed information on top-rated Life Plan communities in Oklahoma by searching myLifeSite’s continuing care retirement community directory and proprietary database for helpful profile reports. For all the information you need and questions to ask as you begin contacting retirement communities directly myLifeSite is a one-stop resource. Our independent reports provide everything you need to make an informed decision including retirement community pricing, important contract details, healthcare aspects, and more.

Search for Continuing Care Retirement Communities in Oklahoma

Updated November 2021