Historic milestone brings Purple Flag’s dementia care standards to New Jersey, expanding the organization’s geographic reach and Senior Living Residences’ system-wide commitment to quality care
Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care™ has reached a significant national milestone, expanding into its 10th state as Senior Living Residences Marlboro becomes the first senior living community in New Jersey to achieve Purple Flag accreditation. The Monmouth County community formally celebrated the distinction with a
flag-raising ceremony on October 15, joined by Purple Flag leadership, Senior Living Residences (SLR) executives, representatives of the Marlboro Township Police Department, residents, associates and guests.
The accreditation represents an important step in Purple Flag’s continued geographic expansion and another milestone in SLR’s organization-wide commitment to maintaining consistent dementia care standards as its portfolio grows. SLR was the first senior living organization in the nation to achieve system-wide Purple Flag accreditation and has committed to reaccrediting its existing communities while bringing newly acquired communities into the program.
For Purple Flag, the addition of New Jersey extends its reach into a new state and senior living market, introducing its standards to more residents, families and senior living professionals. For SLR, it demonstrates how an established dementia care strategy can be carried into new communities and regions as the organization expands.
“Entering a new state is meaningful because it gives us an opportunity to bring measurable dementia care standards to more providers, residents and families,” said Christopher Carter, Founder and CEO of Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care™ and President of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association.
“Senior Living Residences has been an important partner in demonstrating what an organization-wide commitment can look like. Bringing that commitment to Marlboro extends the relationship into New Jersey and introduces Purple Flag to a new community of residents, families and senior living professionals.”
Located in the Morganville section of Marlboro Township, Senior Living Residences Marlboro provides assisted living and specialized memory support to seniors in Monmouth County. The community features 59 assisted living apartments and 33 private and shared memory support apartments, along with a Compass Memory Support Neighborhood® offering specialized programming for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
SLR Marlboro serves residents and families from Marlboro and surrounding communities including Monroe, Manalapan, Freehold and beyond. Its Compass Memory Support approach incorporates structured programming, personalized care and evidence-based practices designed to support engagement, independence, dignity and quality of life for residents experiencing cognitive decline.
“We really are a family here, and I feel so fortunate to come in each morning and work alongside professionals so talented, genuine and compassionate,” said Gabrielle “Gabby” Dolgin, Executive Director of SLR Marlboro. “Everyone’s role here is vital, which became abundantly clear when putting together our Purple Flag application.”
As part of the accreditation process, SLR Marlboro demonstrated alignment with Purple Flag’s 100 practice standards across 10 program themes. The standards address areas essential to high-quality dementia care, including staff education, resident engagement, environmental
design, family involvement and person-centered approaches to care.
The accreditation process is designed to provide more than recognition. Participating providers demonstrate how dementia care standards are incorporated into community practices while establishing a framework for continued evaluation, accountability and quality improvement.
The October 15 flag-raising ceremony brought together Purple Flag and SLR leadership to recognize the community’s achievement and the associates responsible for implementing its dementia care practices. Carter commended the Marlboro team and its leadership for their commitment to residents.
“Each of you here today on the SLR Marlboro team are raising the standard and truly leading in the field of senior living. It is said that passion can’t be taught, but it can be inspired,” Carter shared during the ceremony. “I am inspired by the leadership demonstrated today by Gabby and her team here at SLR Marlboro.”
Tadd Clelland, President and CEO of Senior Living Residences, also recognized the associates whose work helped bring Purple Flag accreditation to the community.
“A vision only goes as far as the people who carry it out. It takes dedicated people who live our Right Values every day, with integrity and heart,” Clelland said. “Gabby, to you and the entire team here at SLR Marlboro, thank you for your leadership and compassion.”
The celebration also extended beyond the community itself. Alongside the official flag raising, guests participated in a basket auction that raised more than $1,500 for Alzheimer’s New Jersey, supporting an organization dedicated to individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
For multi-community providers such as SLR, extending Purple Flag standards into newly acquired locations can help create greater consistency as the organization grows. SLR has committed to reaccrediting all 17 of its existing communities while pursuing accreditation for newly acquired locations, creating continuity between the organization’s growth strategy and its approach to dementia care.
SLR Marlboro’s accreditation reflects that broader commitment while establishing Purple Flag’s presence in New Jersey for the first time. The milestone also demonstrates how participation by established senior living organizations can introduce accreditation standards to new geographic markets.
“Marlboro represents both kinds of growth happening at once,” Carter added. “Purple Flag is reaching residents and families in a new state, while Senior Living Residences is extending its commitment to consistent dementia care standards into another community. That is how expansion can become an opportunity to strengthen expectations for quality rather than simply increase scale.”
The expansion comes as the need for high-quality dementia care continues to increase nationwide. More than seven million Americans age 65 and older currently live with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, and that number is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. As the population affected by cognitive impairment grows, clear and measurable approaches to dementia care can provide an important framework for providers and greater transparency for residents and families.
With its first accredited community in New Jersey, Purple Flag continues to broaden the reach of its dementia care standards, building on partnerships with providers committed to sustained quality, accountability and person-centered care.
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ABOUT PURPLE FLAG EXCELLENCE IN DEMENTIA CARE™
Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care™ is an accreditation organization developed to recognize excellence and drive continuous improvement in the quality of services provided by those who care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care™ originated through a collaboration between the Institute for Senior Living Education (ISLE) and the Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA). Upon approval, providers receive the distinctive purple flag as a symbol that communicates their commitment to leadership in the field of memory care. Purple Flag accreditations cover four different senior care settings: memory care, assisted living, home care and hospice care.
To learn more about Purple Flag and for media inquiries, please contact Christopher Carter at cpcarter@ctassistedliving.com.
ABOUT SENIOR LIVING RESIDENCES MARLBORO
Senior Living Residences Marlboro is a Senior Living Residences community located in the Morganville section of Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The community offers service-enriched assisted living and specialized memory support, with 59 assisted living apartments and 33 private and shared memory support apartments. Its Compass Memory Support Neighborhood® provides specialized programming for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. SLR Marlboro serves seniors and families from Marlboro, Monroe, Manalapan, Freehold and surrounding communities.
To learn more about Senior Living Residences Marlboro, visit seniorlivingresidences.com/communities/slr-marlboro-nj/.