Assisted Living in Broken Arrow, OK

Assisted Living Costs in Broken Arrow

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care Survey revealed that America’s assisted living facilities cost an average of $4,000 per month. Prices vary widely throughout the country, and in Oklahoma, assisted living facilities charge $3,325 per month, on average. Broken Arrow ($3,488) is home to the priciest assisted living in the state; however, this is still significantly more affordable than the national median.

Compared to Broken Arrow, other Oklahoma cities are more affordable. Lawton ($3,238) and Oklahoma City ($3,339) are both slightly less expensive. At just $2,860 per month, Enid’s assisted living facilities are the most budget-friendly in the state. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Broken Arrow. Data for Tulsa, the closest city, has been used.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

The monthly cost of senior care varies based on several factors, including the type of care a senior needs. Broken Arrow seniors with extensive care requirements pay an average of $4,715 for a semiprivate room in a nursing home; this is about $1,225 more than assisted living. Seniors who only need care during the day pay $1,560 for adult day health care, about $1,925 less than assisted living.

Seniors who want to age in place may consider homemaker services ($4,242) and home health aides ($4,290). These in-home care options are about $750 and $800 more than assisted living, respectively, and that’s just for the cost of care. Seniors who stay at home must still pay for groceries, utilities, maintenance and other bills; assisted living facilities’ fees usually include these costs.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Broken Arrow

Medicaid in Oklahoma

Medicaid, a state and federal health insurance program, helps low-income Americans access health care that they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. Each state operates its own Medicaid program. Almost 660,000 people are enrolled in Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, known as SoonerCare.

SoonerCare covers many medical services. Some of the services available to Medicaid recipients include ambulance, physician, hospital, X-ray and clinic. SoonerCare may also pay for medical equipment, such as insulin pumps and wheelchairs.

Seniors who live in Broken Arrow may qualify for SoonerCare if they’re U.S. citizens with low incomes and limited resources. For single seniors, the Medicaid income limit is $1,041 per month, and the asset limit is $2,000. These limits are slightly higher for married couples, who have an income limit of $1,409 and an asset limit of $3,000 per month. 

To apply for SoonerCare, seniors can visit their county Department of Human Services office. Depending on their location within Broken Arrow, this is either the Tulsa County DHS or the Wagoner County DHS. Seniors can also complete a paper application and take or mail it to the county DHS office.

To get more information about Medicaid, seniors can call the SoonerCare Helpline at (800) 987-7767.

ADVantage Waiver Program

The ADVantage Medicaid waiver helps seniors remain in their own homes instead of moving into nursing facilities. Some of the services they may receive through the waiver include housekeeping, personal assistance and nursing care. Waiver members can request to receive these services in an assisted living facility instead of at home. The waiver doesn’t cover room-and-board fees.

Seniors may qualify for the ADVantage program if they:

• Are aged 65 or older
• Require nursing home care
• Don’t have a cognitive impairment
• Live at home or with a family member
• Can safely live at home after receiving waiver services
• Earn less than $2,313 per month ($4,626 for couples)
• Have less than $2,000 in assets ($3,000 for couples)

Once seniors qualify for the ADVantage program, they can request assisted living services if they meet at least one of these requirements:

• Their home is unsafe or inaccessible.
• They need to move out of an assisted living facility but have nowhere else to go.
• Their care needs can’t be met at home.
• They may lose their home.

To request assisted living services, seniors who are already members of the ADVantage program can simply call their case manager. Seniors who aren’t members yet can call the ADVantage Administration Unit at (800) 435-4711. They can also apply in person at their county DHS office.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Bridge Loans for Assisted Living

When the time comes to move into assisted living, some seniors may have a gap in funding. They may need to sell their home, get approved for VA benefits or make a long-term care insurance claim before they can afford facility costs. Assisted living bridge loans may help seniors cover these short-term funding gaps. 

Seniors who qualify for an assisted living bridge loan can borrow as much as $100,000. This loan is an unsecured line of credit. The amount that seniors borrow can vary from month to month, and the funding is electronically transferred to the assisted living facility. 

A senior’s creditworthiness and plans to repay the loan may affect their chance of getting approved. The company allows up to six co-signers to apply with the senior. Loan decisions are generally made quickly, and funding could be available in as little as 24 hours. 

For more information about bridge loans, interested seniors can apply online or call Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500.

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits

Eligible veterans and survivors in Broken Arrow may qualify for monthly funding in the form of VA Aid and Attendance benefits. These benefits are paid in addition to the basic VA pension, and they may be as much as $9,042 per year. The amount a senior receives varies depending on their countable income. 

Seniors who receive a basic VA pension may qualify for these additional benefits if they have limited vision, live in a nursing home, are bedridden due to an illness or need someone else’s help completing daily activities, such as bathing or getting dressed.

Seniors interested in these benefits should complete VA Form 21-2680. They may want to provide other documentation that supports their need for the benefits, such as details about illnesses or disabilities. Once the paperwork is ready, applicants can drop it off at the Muskogee Regional Benefit Office. They can also fax the form to the St. Paul VA Regional Office at (844) 655-1604. For those who prefer to mail the application, the address is:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
Attention: St. Paul Pension Center
P.O. Box 5365 
Janesville, WI 53547

Any questions about these benefits can be answered by calling the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at (844) 698-2311.

Assisted Living Resources in Broken Arrow

Area Agency on Aging

AAAs are nonprofit organizations that connect local seniors with helpful information, including referrals to community resources. There are two AAAs that serve Broken Arrow: seniors with Tulsa County addresses should visit the INCOG, while seniors in Wagoner County can visit the EODD.

The Indian Nations Council of Governments 
2 W. Second St., Ste. 800, Tulsa, OK 74103
(918) 584-7526

Eastern Oklahoma Development District 
1012 N. 38th St., P.O. Box 1367, Muskogee, OK 74402
(918) 682-7891

Social Security

Broken Arrow seniors don’t need to travel far to reach their closest Social Security office in Tulsa. Seniors can inquire about Medicare, SSI, SSDI and other federal programs. The Social Security office can also help seniors who’ve lost their Social Security cards.

Tulsa Social Security Office 
4750 S. Garnett Rd., Tulsa, OK 74146
(866) 931-7106

Senior Centers

For a small annual fee, Broken Arrow seniors can join the city’s senior center. Its busy event calendar includes line dancing, painting, photography, creative writing, ukulele classes and many other activities. Low-cost meals are served in the cafeteria every weekday.

Broken Arrow Senior Center 
1800 S. Main St., Broken Arrow, OK 74012
(918) 259-8377