10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Tulsa, OK for 2023

Tulsa is a large city of more than 400,000 residents, just over 14% of whom are seniors. Located in northeastern Oklahoma, Tulsa County offers seniors a rugged natural beauty combined with a low cost of living and senior-friendly tax status. Additionally, the Tulsa area is a diverse, culturally active area that serves as an intersection point between southern and western influences, which gives seniors vibrant multicultural experiences.

Seniors who live in Tulsa pay on average $3,855 per month for assisted living care. This cost is equal to the state average and below the national average of $4,500 per month for assisted living services. In an assisted living community, seniors live in semiprivate or private apartments that resemble those of a typical apartment complex, with the exception that they receive occasional assistance with household tasks such as cleaning or laundry and access to basic medical checkups, therapies and other health-related services to help them remain independent.

This guide to assisted living in Tulsa provides an overview of the city and the benefits and drawbacks of living in Tulsa as a senior. It also offers a comprehensive comparison of the cost of assisted living in Tulsa and other cities in the region and a table of low- or no-cost senior resources where seniors can find more information on services available to them.

In Oklahoma, all assisted living centers and continuum of care facilities are licensed and regulated by the State Department of Health. Senior care residences in Oklahoma must renew their license every three years and are subject to regular visits to ensure compliance. 

• Compared to the rest of the country, Tulsa’s cost of living is quite low, 16.8% lower than the U.S. average. This can be a big benefit for seniors living on a fixed income since it means that their monthly checks will go further to pay for food, medicine and utility bills. Transportation costs are also less here, so seniors can afford to go out and enjoy all the city has to offer.  
• Tulsa’s climate is mostly pleasant, with average temps that range between 38-42 degrees in winter and 79-82 in summer. The city has more than 200 sunny days each year. Like other Oklahoma cities, Tulsa is prone to severe storms in the spring and summer months, but most homes are equipped with storm shelters or other evacuation options.
• Oklahoma is generally considered a tax-friendly place for seniors. There are no estate or inheritance taxes, making it easier for seniors to leave property to their loved ones. In addition, Social Security benefits and other government benefits are untaxed, and prescription medications are as well. The state is generous in allowing seniors to claim up to $10,000 off any asset taxes, and they’re often eligible for a tax refund even if they don’t pay income tax through the state’s sales tax relief allowance.
• Tulsa is a vibrant place for seniors to live, with a variety of parks, museums and gardens to explore. The Art Deco district downtown provides an easy-to-walk neighborhood of small restaurants, retail shops, and cultural events that attract diverse visitors. Additionally, seniors can take advantage of regular social and community events in Chapman Green Park, also located downtown.
• Seniors in Tulsa have access to high-quality medical care and treatments that can help them stay healthy longer. St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa was voted high-performing in heart attack treatment, COPD and stroke treatment options. Tulsa also has a higher-than-average physician-to-senior ratio with 111 physicians per 100,000 residents, compared to the U.S. average of only 82 per 100,000 residents.

Seniors who live in Tulsa pay an average of $3,855 per month, which is at the lower end of the cost scale when compared with the national average and mid-range when compared with other cities in the area. 

Seniors who live in Tulsa pay approximately $125 less than those in Enid and $945 less than seniors who live in Oklahoma City. Compared to cities that lie within a 100-mile radius, Tulsa’s assisted living costs are slightly higher, representing a difference of just over $1,000 more per month than Joplin, Missouri, and just over $200 more than Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

The cost of assisted living care can differ widely from that of other types of senior care. In Tulsa, the cost of assisted living services amounts to $3,855 per month. This price is approximately $2,300 more than the supervisory care seniors receive in adult daycare centers but around $900 less than what seniors pay for in-home care or home health care in the Tulsa area. Finally, seniors who find they need more advanced care than they can receive in an assisted living facility might find the need to enter a nursing home. For seniors who live in Tulsa, a semiprivate room in a nursing home costs $5,323 per month on average, almost $1,500 more per month than assisted living services.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Oklahoma page.