If you're noticing changes in your parent's ability to manage daily life, you're not alone in wondering if they are in need of more assistance. Many families in Marlton, NJ face this difficult decision, often feeling torn between wanting to keep their loved one at home and ensuring they receive the care and support they need at an assisted living community.
The truth is, waiting for a crisis to make this decision often leads to more stress for everyone involved. Recognizing the signs early allows you to explore options thoughtfully, ensuring your loved one transitions to a supportive community when they can still actively participate in the decision and truly benefit from the enhanced quality of life that senior living offers.
Assisted living communities provide a safe place to call home, with caregivers readily available at any time to support the independence of residents. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, assisted living also offers 24-hour service and oversight, services that meet both scheduled and unscheduled needs, and care that encourages independence—all within a home-like environment that prioritizes privacy and personal choice.
Unlike the outdated image many people have of senior care, today's assisted living communities like Arbor Terrace Marlton combine the comfort of personalized choice with the dignity of elevated living. This means residents receive exactly the amount of support they need, without having to rely on family members or friends for various tasks.
One of the earliest and most concerning signs that your parent may need additional support is difficulty managing medications properly. This goes beyond occasionally forgetting a vitamin and can involve potentially dangerous situations with prescription medications.
Some warning signs include:
Finding expired medications mixed with current prescriptions
Missed doses of critical medications like insulin, blood pressure pills, or heart medications
Taking incorrect dosages or taking the same medication twice
Confusion about when or how to take medications
Not refilling prescriptions on time, leading to gaps in treatment
Medication management is a common challenge for seniors living alone. At Arbor Terrace Marlton, licensed nurses are on staff to coordinate medication schedules and ensure residents take the right medications at the right times. This level of professional oversight can prevent hospitalizations and serious health complications while giving families the peace of mind they need.
Your parent's safety should never be a guessing game. If you find yourself worrying whether your mom or dad is safe during daily activities, it's time to pay attention to those concerns:
Recent falls or near-misses, especially on stairs or in the bathroom
Bruises or injuries your parent can't explain or doesn't remember
Difficulty with mobility, balance, or getting in and out of chairs
Pots left burning on the stove or oven left on
Wandering outside and becoming disoriented or lost
Home maintenance issues creating hazards (broken steps, poor lighting, cluttered walkways)
Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults, and the fear of falling can lead to decreased activity and increased isolation. Thankfully, most modern assisted living communities are designed with safety in mind, featuring accessible layouts, emergency call systems, and 24-hour staff presence. At Arbor Terrace, we have built a community that is thoughtfully designed to allow residents to move freely and safely while pursuing the activities they love!
Loneliness is not only an emotional concern, but it also poses a significant health risk for older adults. Research shows that social isolation can lead to cognitive decline, depression, and even increased mortality rates.
Signs your parent may be experiencing harmful isolation:
Limited or no contact with friends and neighbors
Reluctance to leave the house for activities they once enjoyed
No phone calls or visitors while you're spending time together
Expressions of loneliness, sadness, or lack of purpose
Declining interest in hobbies, appearance, or daily routines
Increased television watching as the primary daily activity
Burlington and Camden Counties offer wonderful resources, like the Evesham Township Senior Center to local parks along the Rancocas Creek. However, if your parent isn't taking advantage of these opportunities (or can't safely access them) they're missing out on the socialization that builds vital connection and encouragement.
You can have peace of mind that assisted living communities provide built-in opportunities for friendship and engagement. For example, at Arbor Terrace Marlton, residents benefit from a fully staffed engagement department that plans activities, trips, and events designed to keep even the most introverted residents connected with peers.
When daily activities become overwhelming, quality of life suffers. You might notice that your parent's home isn't as clean as it used to be, or that personal hygiene habits have changed.
Concerning changes can often include:
Wearing the same clothes multiple days in a row or wearing soiled clothing
Skipping showers or baths, poor dental hygiene, or unkempt appearance
Significant weight loss or gain due to poor nutrition
Empty refrigerator or reliance on microwave meals and packaged foods
Piles of laundry, dirty dishes, or declining housekeeping
Difficulty with basic tasks like dressing, bathing, or grooming
It’s important to keep in mind that these changes aren't about laziness or not caring, but often signs that these tasks have become physically difficult or overwhelming. Assisted living provides support with activities of daily living (ADLs) delivered with the dignity and respect seniors deserve. Whether it's help with bathing, dressing, or meal preparation, the goal is and always should be to preserve independence while ensuring safety and wellbeing are upheld.
Perhaps one of the most overlooked signs that it's time to consider assisted living is the toll that caregiving is taking on family members. You love your parent and want to help, but trying to manage everything while juggling your own work, family, and responsibilities can lead to serious burnout.
Here are some signs of caregiver burnout:
Feeling constantly exhausted, anxious, or overwhelmed
Neglecting your own health or relationships
Resentment toward your loved one or the caregiving situation
Difficulty managing work responsibilities due to caregiving demands
Siblings or family members in conflict about care decisions
Recognizing you simply don't have the medical knowledge to manage your parent's complex health needs
Remember, caregiver burnout can lead to increased health concerns for you, as well as unintentional neglect of your loved one's needs. Choosing assisted living isn't giving up at all, but rather ensuring your parent receives professional care while preserving the quality of your relationship. Many families report that their relationships actually improve after transitioning to assisted living, as time together becomes about enjoying each other's company rather than managing medical tasks and household chores.
When you're ready to explore assisted living in Marlton, NJ, you deserve a partner who truly understands your concerns and your parent's unique needs. Arbor Terrace Marlton, part of The Arbor Company family with more than 30 years of trusted experience, offers something different.
Personalized, individualized care: Every resident at Arbor Terrace Marlton receives a customized care plan developed around their specific needs and preferences. What “luxury” means here isn't about extravagance as much as it’s about the freedom to live your way, supported by attentive staff, beautiful spaces, and a daily life filled with meaning.
Restaurant-style dining: Arbor is known throughout the industry for meals that are both delicious and customized to each resident's needs and preferences. With our award-winning Dining With Dignity® program at the helm, you can rest assured that whether your parent follows a diabetic diet, has cultural food preferences, or simply loves a good steak, our culinary team will make it happen.
Engaged, long-tenured staff: The quality of care depends on the quality of caregivers. Arbor communities prioritize staff retention and invest heavily in ongoing training, ensuring your parent builds lasting relationships with caregivers who truly know and care about them.
Marlton connections: Located at 5 Executive Drive in Marlton, our community provides easy access to Virtua Marlton Hospital, local physicians, shopping at Promenade at Sagemore, and beautiful outdoor spaces like Elmwood Park. Families from Cherry Hill, Evesham Township, and throughout Burlington County choose Arbor Terrace Marlton for its location and community connections.
The Arbor Company backing: While Arbor Terrace Marlton delivers local, personalized care, our community is supported by a larger organization with proven systems, deep resources, and consistent standards. This means you get the best of both worlds—local comfort and national expertise.
Deciding that your parent needs more support than you can provide at home is one of the most difficult decisions you'll ever make. The feelings of guilt, worry, and uncertainty are completely normal. But remember this: choosing assisted living only proves your care further, by ensuring your loved one receives professional attention in a supportive community where they can truly thrive.
At Arbor Terrace Marlton, we understand the emotional complexity of this decision. Our team has guided hundreds of families through this transition with compassion, transparency, and expert support. We're always available to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you determine if assisted living is the right choice for your family.
Ready to learn more? We invite you to schedule a personal tour of Arbor Terrace Marlton. See our beautiful apartments, meet our caring team, enjoy a complimentary meal, and discover how our community brings comfort, dignity, and joy to every resident's day!
Additionally, feel free to download our complimentary guide, The Complete Guide to Assisted Living, to help you better understand everything from levels of care to financial planning, making your decision process easier and more informed.