Nina Willingham Senior Housing in Oklahoma City: Independent Living with Memory Care Support
Nina Willingham Senior Housing is a 240-unit independent and assisted living community in northeast Oklahoma City operated by Integra Senior Living, designed primarily for residents 62 and older who need minimal to moderate care support but want to avoid a full nursing facility environment.
What Nina Willingham actually is
The community occupies a low-rise campus format rather than a single tower, with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans. Independent residents live autonomously in their units; assisted living residents receive help with activities of daily living (bathing, medication management, dressing) delivered by on-site staff. A secured memory care neighborhood serves residents with Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive decline, with a dedicated team trained in dementia-specific approaches. The facility sits near the intersection of NE 23rd Street and NE 36th Street, placing it roughly 10 minutes from Midtown restaurants and medical offices, and 15 minutes from OU Medical Center.
Services and pricing
Monthly rent for independent living studios starts around $3,200 to $3,500; one-bedroom units range from $3,700 to $4,500 depending on unit size and view. Assisted living adds $1,500 to $2,500 monthly to the base rent, depending on care level. Memory care units cost approximately $5,500 to $6,500 monthly. These figures change periodically; contact the community directly to confirm current rates and any move-in specials.
Included services across all levels are meals (three daily in a dining room), utilities, cable, activities programming, transportation to medical appointments, and basic housekeeping. Assisted living and memory care add medication management, assistance with grooming and bathing, and 24-hour staffing. The memory care neighborhood includes secured outdoor courtyards and specialized programming.
Optional services billed separately include beauty salon visits, laundry, and additional housekeeping. Pet policies vary by lease; clarify pet restrictions before applying.
How it compares to other Oklahoma City options
Quail Springs Senior Living, located north of Oklahoma City proper in Edmond, offers comparable independent and assisted living but operates as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), meaning residents pay an entrance fee ($60,000 to $250,000+) plus monthly fees. This locks in a pricing structure and guarantees access to higher levels of care, but requires significant upfront capital. Nina Willingham operates on a month-to-month or short-lease basis with no entrance fee, making it more accessible for residents who lack lump-sum savings or want flexibility.
Boulevard Senior Living in northwest OKC offers independent living only, no assisted living or memory care on-site, so residents who decline in health must transfer. Nina Willingham's on-campus continuum means a resident can stay in place as care needs increase, avoiding a move.
Integra's other properties in the Oklahoma market (such as facilities in Tulsa) follow the same corporate model. If you need memory care or assisted living without an entrance fee and want to remain in Oklahoma City proper, Nina Willingham is the primary Integra option. For residents who strongly prefer CCRC security and can afford the entrance fee, Quail Springs offers that guarantee; for those prioritizing low monthly cost and flexibility, Nina Willingham's rental model works better.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Nina Willingham suits active, independent older adults who want community amenities (dining, activities, transportation) without the cost or commitment of a CCRC. It also suits residents whose care needs are expected to increase moderately over time but who are not yet at the nursing-home stage. Couples where one partner needs assisted living and one does not can often find adjacent or nearby units, keeping them connected.
It does not suit residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care, wound care, or dialysis. Those needs require a licensed nursing home facility; Nina Willingham's assisted living is lighter-touch personal assistance, not medical care. It also does not suit residents who need psychiatric hospitalization or acute rehab; the community is a residential setting, not a treatment facility.
What the first visit involves
Tours are scheduled by appointment; call the community or visit during business hours to arrange. The tour typically covers independent and assisted living model units, the dining room, activity spaces, memory care neighborhoods (if relevant to your situation), and parking areas. Bring a list of specific questions about care levels, pet policies, and move-in timeline. If assisted living or memory care is anticipated, ask to meet the care coordinator and discuss how care escalation works.
The application process requires proof of age, financial documentation to establish ability to pay rent, and often a physician's statement confirming current health and care level. Waitlists exist for certain floor plans and price points, especially one-bedroom units; expect a 2 to 4-week move-in timeline if admitted immediately.
Hours, parking, and logistics
The community is open for tours Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday by appointment. Parking is surface lot, free, and available at the main entrance and throughout the campus. Public transportation (METRO) serves the area but not directly to the facility; most residents use personal vehicles or the on-site transportation service for medical and shopping trips. The northeast location places Nina Willingham near Integra headquarters in Oklahoma City, which may explain staffing consistency and building investment.
Nina Willingham fills a specific role in Oklahoma City's senior housing landscape: it offers the care continuum and community structure of assisted living without CCRC entrance fees, serving residents who want to age in place within a single community while maintaining financial flexibility.
