Oklahoma City Independent Living

The median cost of independent living in Oklahoma City for a single-occupancy apartment is $1,952/month (SeniorHomes.com - 2015). This monthly cost typically includes rent, utilities, dining, housekeeping and transportation.

Oklahoma City independent living takes place in the heart of the State of Oklahoma. It is a three-hour drive north of Dallas, Texas via Interstate 35 and two and a half hours south of Wichita, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population density of 956 per square mile. This is blissfully low compared to the likes of Wichita, with 2,305, or Dallas, at 3,518. The median age in Oklahoma City is 34 years. Perhaps surprisingly for a land-locked region, the ambient climate is described as humid subtropical. Summer is consistently hot and humid, 84 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter’s northerly winds can bring the temperature down as low as -17 degrees Fahrenheit. The city was founded during the 1889 Land Run and grew to a population of 10,000 within a matter of hours. Actor Lon Chaney, Jr., who played the Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy and Count Alucard, was born in Oklahoma City.

Attractions

Oklahoma City independent living combines gritty western charm with new millennium modern facilities. Buffalo still roam the plains at Rockwell RV Park just eight miles west of the city along State Highway 270 while Fortune 500 corporations thrive downtown. Renting a home in Oklahoma City costs less than a third what it would in New York City; the bill for a meal in a restaurant here is slightly more than half what it costs in the Big Apple. Basketball is popular here, with three clubs keeping supporters happy: Oklahoma City Thunder, the Oklahoma Stallions and Oklahoma Impact. Other popular sports include ice hockey, baseball, women’s soccer and roller derby.

Senior Activities

Residents in Oklahoma City have their choice of two senior activity centers where they may enjoy a wide range of pursuits for citizens aged 55 and over. There is something for all ages and abilities, including art classes, card games, dance classes, moderate to high impact exercises, history discussions, learning languages, quilting and other sewing activities, social gatherings, travel and yoga. Both the Will Rogers Senior Center and Woodson Park Senior Activity Center offer specialty programs on financial planning and senior health issues.

Medical Facilities

World class medical facilities are essential to Oklahoma City independent living. The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is home to the state’s only Level 1 trauma center. This is the highest level of trauma care as defined by the American College of Surgeons. OU Medicine is an academic medical institution also housed on campus. It encompasses, among other things, the Oklahoma Cancer Center and OU College of Medicine. The city is also blessed with a number of hospitals owned by INTEGRIS Health, including the Baptist Medical Center, Cancer Institute of Oklahoma and the Southwest Medical Center. US News and World Report gave Baptist Medical high marks for its performance in cardiology, Geriatrics, orthopedics, gastroenterology, pulmonary and urology, among others. In total, there are 347 physicians for every 100,000 people in Oklahoma City.

Transportation

Transportation links are vital to Oklahoma City independent living. The area is knee deep in interstate highways, with Interstates 35, 40 and 44 bisecting the city as well as I-240 and I-235 to the north and south of the city. Major state highways include the Kilpatrick Turnpike, Lake Hefner Parkway, and Broadway Extension. Two primary airports also serve the city. The Oklahoma City bus system services 465 miles of metropolitan area. Regular bus riders may even get to know their bus drivers. METRO Transit runs the bus and trolley services. Of special appeal is the Oklahoma City Spirit Trolley, a reproduction of the American Heritage Streetcar, providing a touch of nostalgia as well as a journey from A to B. Amtrak connects the area to Forth Worth, Texas, with a daily service while Greyhound and other bus services connect the town to the outside world.

Oklahoma City has a lot to offer the Baby Boomer generation desiring Oklahoma City independent living. Medical and social needs are well catered for and the senior motorist will have no problem navigating in and out of the city. With freezing cold winters and frequent tornadoes in the summer, the weather may be more lively than some over-55s find desirable, but the city’s residents are accustomed to these climatic quirks and take them in their stride.