Overall sentiment: The reviews of Sunrise of Marlboro are strongly mixed but lean positive on caregiving, community life, and facilities, with recurring high praise for individual staff members and the community atmosphere. A majority of reviewers describe the staff as warm, caring, and attentive — often characterizing them as a "second family" — and many single out named employees (Gabby, Tina, Michele, Audrey and others) for exemplary responsiveness and leadership. Families frequently note that memory care staff know residents personally, encourage engagement, and provide compassionate dementia-focused care, music therapy, and meaningful activity programming. Several reviewers also praise hospice and end-of-life communication and support as exceptional.
Care quality and staff: The dominant theme is praise for direct caregivers, nursing staff, and activity teams. Many reviews highlight individualized attention, patience, and an energetic, creative approach to activities (arts & crafts, music, singing, dancing, and intergenerational programs with local schools). Staff are repeatedly commended for being available, listening to resident preferences, and maintaining strong two-way communication with families. The admissions and move-in experience is commonly described as smooth and supportive. However, this positive picture is counterbalanced by repeated mentions of understaffing and staff turnover in some reports. Nighttime staffing concerns and slower response times to calls were cited multiple times, and a subset of reviewers reported that these issues directly affected care (for example, incidents where residents needed prompt assistance and experienced delayed help).
Facilities, amenities and cleanliness: Sunrise Marlboro receives consistent praise for its physical environment. Many reviewers describe the facility as beautiful, bright, hotel-like or "Disney resort"–style, with attractive landscaping, courtyards, porches, a grand entrance, and well-kept common spaces. Specific amenities mentioned include a movie theater, beauty salon, gym/fitness room, library/computer area, bistro/dining room, arts and crafts room, and shuttle services. Numerous families were impressed by the cleanliness and maintenance of suites and communal areas. That said, there are some conflicting reports: while many call the community spotless, a few reviewers noted cleanliness issues such as residents being asked to clean, occasional poor bathing or dental care, or misplaced belongings. These appear to be minority concerns but are significant to those affected.
Dining and activities: The dining program is frequently praised for variety and full menus, with several reviewers very pleased with food and portion sizes. Others reported smaller portions or food they disliked, and a small number claimed food theft or that their loved one still had to buy food. Activities are widely cited as a strength — diverse daily programming, special events, holiday and faith-based celebrations, outside lunches, scenic drives, and intergenerational partnerships. Music therapy, bingo, exercise classes, and arts/crafts are repeatedly mentioned as enhancing resident engagement and mood.
Management, communication and admissions/contract issues: Experiences with management and sales are more polarized. Many reviewers praise admissions staff for helpful, informative, and stress-reducing support, often naming Gabby as an effective point of contact. Conversely, a substantial minority raised serious concerns about sales practices, contract terms, and financial transparency. Complaints include alleged misleading promises from sales staff, lengthy contracts that disclaim oral agreements, high upfront move-in costs, unexpected fees, and "nickel-and-dimed" charges. Several reviewers made severe allegations involving forced asset sales, eviction threats, and large financial losses — these are serious claims and, while not representative of most reviews, are recurring enough to be a notable risk factor for prospective families. In addition, some reviewers experienced inconsistent follow-through from management, annoying phone routing, and broken promises about updates.
Safety, clinical concerns and specific incidents: Overall clinical care and medication management receive praise in many reviews, but there are isolated reports of medication distribution without review, poor dental/daily hygiene care, and incidents where timely assistance was lacking (e.g., a resident needing help in the bathroom). These incidents intersect with understaffing complaints and are important red flags for prospective residents and families to investigate further. Several reviewers also called attention to staff turnover, which can affect continuity of care and social integration for new residents.
Cost and value: Price is a recurrent theme. Many reviewers explicitly state that Sunrise Marlboro is expensive or that costs escalated, and some described the community as "not affordable" for long-term care for their loved ones. A number of families felt the pricing was competitive relative to quality and amenities, while others reported frustration with additional fees and contract penalties (e.g., early departure charges). The most serious cost-related comments include allegations of financial misconduct and coercive contract practices; these are outlying but severe and warrant careful review of contracts and independent financial/legal advice before signing.
Net recommendation and patterns: Taken together, most reviews present Sunrise of Marlboro as a high-quality, engaging, and attractive community with many compassionate caregivers, strong memory-care programming, and excellent amenities. For many residents, the community improved quality of life through activities, social engagement, and responsive daily care. However, the positive picture is tempered by repeated concerns about cost, occasional understaffing (particularly at night), inconsistent management follow-through, and a minority of serious financial and clinical complaints. Prospective residents and families should weigh the demonstrated strengths in daily care, environment, and activities against the potential downsides: carefully review contract terms, clarify all fees and refund/penalty policies, ask specific questions about night staffing ratios and response protocols, confirm medication and hygiene procedures, and verify references from current resident families. Doing so will help determine whether the community’s many strengths align with a family's expectations and risk tolerance.
