Cra-Mar Nursing Home in Cranston, RI

Pros

• Her care at Cra Mar Meadows was excellent.
• The facility is very clean, neat, and never had unpleasant odors.
• The staff were very helpful, knowledgeable, and kind.
• It is a small, family-owned nursing home, so it's easy to get to know everyone.
• The staff were polite and professional.
• The facility was light, clean, and pleasant.
• The facility is family-owned and operated, and the staff treats the residents like family.

Cons

• One reviewer described the day as the worst day ever and reported that two medication bottles were missing when the patient was returned to the hospital.
• They said staff abruptly claimed the medications had been returned, which the reviewer called extremely unprofessional and lacking care, all within 24 hours.
• A reviewer alleged that older CNAs treat new CNAs like garbage and that minorities and people of color are treated the worst.

Review

Cra-Mar Nursing Home in Cranston, RI is best suited for families seeking a small, family?owned setting where residents are known by name and daily care feels personal. The community's intimate size tends to foster genuine warmth: staff members who are approachable, attentive, and willing to go the extra mile for familiar faces. Cleanliness and a pleasant, odor?free environment reinforce a home?like atmosphere, and for relatives who want easy access to caregivers and administrators, Cra?Mar's close-knit, family?run culture can be a meaningful comfort. In short, it works well for seniors who prize personal connections, predictable routines, and a sense that the staff are partners in care rather than distant operators.

That said, several caveats deserve serious consideration. Families prioritizing flawless medication management and consistently professional responses across shifts may want to explore alternatives. A troubling incident described by a contributor - medications returned from a hospital transfer with two bottles missing, followed by an abrupt denial of responsibility - highlights the potential risk when pharmacy workflows and accountability are not airtight. Additionally, repeated concerns about how longer?tenured CNAs may treat newer staff, and references to biased treatment of minority residents, raise red flags about equitable, respectful care across all shifts. These points suggest that while the atmosphere can feel familial, safeguards around clinical operations and staff culture require vigilant oversight.

The strongest positives - cleanliness, a quiet and orderly environment, and a staff ethos that treats residents like family - do offset some of the concerns if families are proactive. The facility's small size translates into better visibility for family members and quicker access to care decisions, which can reduce the sense of being sent to the margins. Staff are described as polite, professional, and helpful, with the capacity to provide individualized attention that larger centers struggle to match. When care plans are clearly communicated and residents are well known by multiple caregivers, the risk of missteps can be mitigated, and the overall experience becomes more consistent, especially for those who do not require high-acuity medical management.

However, the inherent limits of a smaller, family?owned operation cannot be ignored. Variability in staff experience and turnover can translate into uneven day?to?day quality, particularly on evenings and weekends when fewer experienced nurses are on site. The mixed feedback about CNAs - ranging from warmth and attentiveness to reports of disrespect among staff - suggests a need for ongoing, strong supervision and a culture of professional development. Prospective residents should expect to engage in detailed conversations about who will be on duty, how shifts are managed, and what explicit procedures exist for medication reconciliation, incident reporting, and immediate escalation of concerns. Without rigorous oversight, the very attributes that make Cra?Mar appealing can become points of fragility.

For families evaluating Cra?Mar, concrete next steps matter. Ask for a candid tour during multiple shifts to observe how staff interact with residents and how medications are handled from admission to administration. Request to see the facility's medication management policies, incident logs, and a recent quality assurance report. Inquire about staffing ratios by shift, CNA tenure, and ongoing training programs focused on clinical accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and resident rights. Seek to meet the leadership team and nurse managers, and insist on a plan for ongoing oversight by family members or designated advocates documenting monthly care reviews. These steps help translate the warmth of a home atmosphere into a reliably safe clinical environment.

The bottom line is practical and decisive: Cra-Mar Nursing Home is a solid fit for families who value a homey, intimate setting and are prepared to actively supervise care, advocate for medication safety, and engage with staff closely. It delivers on cleanliness, approachable personnel, and a sense of belonging that many families want for a loved one. Yet the facility's limited scale and the variability reported in staff conduct and med management mean that those needing highly consistent clinical oversight or specialized care may be better served by larger or more standardized options. For the right family, Cra?Mar offers a trustworthy, affectionate environment; for others, a careful comparison with alternatives is essential to avoid compromising safety in pursuit of a warm, familial feel.

Located in the heart of Cranston, Rhode Island, this neighborhood offers a variety of amenities that cater to seniors looking for convenience and comfort. With multiple dining options such as Bill's Place and Not Your Average Joe's, residents can enjoy delicious meals without traveling far. Nearby medical facilities like Thundermist Medical Center and Anesthesia Associates of Kent County provide easy access to healthcare services. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are also within reach for medication needs. For leisure activities, seniors can visit the local cafes like Latte Love Coffee House or take a stroll in nearby parks such as Playground or Roger Williams Park. Additionally, transportation options are available with T. F. Green Airport just a short distance away. This area provides a well-rounded community ideal for senior living with its mix of amenities and services tailored to their needs.

Restaurants

• Bill's Place (1.8 miles)
• Come Along Inn (3.6 miles)
• McDonald's (3.9 miles)
• The Olde Theater Diner (3.9 miles)
• Not Your Average Joe's (4 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (4 miles)
• Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks (4.4 miles)

Physicians

• Thundermist Medical Center (2.8 miles)
• Anesthesia Associates of Kent County (4.6 miles)
• Bling Eyewear (4.7 miles)
• Angell Street Psychiatry (4.7 miles)
• Ortho Ri (4.8 miles)
• Xra Medical Imaging (5 miles)
• Doctor Newstead's Office (5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• Pawtuxet Valley Prescription & Surgical Center (4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)
• Walgreens (4.5 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)

Cafes

• Latte Love Coffee House (3.4 miles)
• Bean Barn RI (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.8 miles)
• Cafe Tempo Coffee House (5.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.4 miles)

Parks

• Playground (3.9 miles)
• Roger Williams Park (7.6 miles)

Theaters

• Apple Cinemas (4.3 miles)
• Showcase Cinemas Warwick (6.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church (4.4 miles)
• St John & Paul Rectory (4.7 miles)
• Our Lady of Grace Church (7.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Kent County Memorial Hospital (4.6 miles)
• Kent Hospital Laboratory Services (4.7 miles)

Transportation

• T. F. Green Airport (5.7 miles)
• Green Airport (PVD) (6.1 miles)