Tulsa Senior AdvisorWhat laws govern senior care facilities in Tulsa?
Oklahoma state law: the Continuum of Care and Assisted Living Act (OAC 310:663), the Residential Care Act (OAC 310:680), the Adult Day Care Act (OAC 310:605) and the Nursing Home Care Act (OAC 310:675), with the Alzheimer's Disease Special Care Disclosure Act (OAC 310:673) for dementia units and federal CMS rules for certified nursing homes.
Last verified: October 2026The Oklahoma State Department of Health licenses and inspects every one of those settings through its Long Term Care Service, (405) 426-8200. Neither the City of Tulsa nor any of the six counties licenses care settings.
How is Oklahoma's approach different from other states?
Oklahoma uses one assisted living license with no numeric staffing ratio, treats memory care as a disclosed special unit rather than a separate license, publishes every facility's survey documents in an online public file, and pays for assisted living services (not room and board) through SoonerCare's ADvantage waiver.
On OSDH's roster for the six counties that works out to 45 assisted living centers, 5 residential care homes, 8 adult day care centers and 55 nursing homes.
Where do Tulsa families report problems?
Facility complaints go to OSDH's long-term care hotline at 1-800-747-8419; suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation goes to Oklahoma Human Services at 1-800-522-3511; and residents can get free advocacy from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-211-2116.
The guides below explain each step, with the rule behind it.
Oklahoma Rules guides
How Oklahoma licenses assisted living
Oklahoma's Continuum of Care and Assisted Living Act and OAC 310:663 explained for Tulsa families: who licenses, what centers may do, staffing, assessments and inspections.
Read →How Oklahoma regulates memory care
Oklahoma has no memory care license. Here is how the Alzheimer's Disease Special Care Disclosure Act, ODH Form 613 and the restricted-unit staffing rule work for Tulsa families.
Read →How to check a facility's state record
Step by step: using the OSDH public survey site and CMS Care Compare to read inspections, disclosures and orders for any Tulsa-area assisted living center or nursing home.
Read →Oklahoma residential care homes, explained
Oklahoma's Residential Care Act and OAC 310:680: what a residential care home provides, who it serves, and how it differs from assisted living in the Tulsa area.
Read →How Oklahoma oversees nursing homes
Oklahoma's Nursing Home Care Act and OAC 310:675, federal certification, CMS star ratings and what Tulsa families should check before choosing a nursing home.
Read →Where Tulsa families report problems
The OSDH long-term care complaint hotline, Adult Protective Services, and the Oklahoma Long-Term Care Ombudsman (now in the Attorney General's office), with numbers for the Tulsa area.
Read →How Oklahoma licenses adult day care
Oklahoma's Adult Day Care Act and OAC 310:605, the Tulsa area's licensed centers, costs, and how ADvantage and PACE can pay for adult day health.
Read →At a glance
| Oklahoma's rules do | Oklahoma's rules do not | |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | Require an OSDH license and a qualified administrator | Set a building-wide staff ratio |
| Memory care | Require a filed disclosure and two awake staff where exits are restricted | Create a separate license |
| Inspections | Require unannounced inspections at least every 15 months | Rate assisted living with stars |
| Payment | Let ADvantage pay assisted living services | Pay assisted living room and board |
