Picking a nursing home

You have made it in the front door and are being used about the facility by the social worker or worse a marketing person and you need ask some key questions.
Is this a non- profit or for profit facility. More than likely it is for profit, non profits are few and far between. So find out which company own the place. You will need to find out in order to do your internet search on the stability of the company. Usually the cavorting around that happens in big companies doesn't trickle down to the local level. Remember these companies take government money and have to disclose everything.
You will want to know how long administrative staff have been there. The longer the better, stable staff is important. Ask random staff member how long they have been there.
Find out who passes the medications. One of the most prevalent mistakes or errors in any health care setting is medication errors. I have seen LPN's and Medication aides make some awful mistakes as well as RN's, the thing is if they have a professional license then if do make an egregious error then the board will make sanctions.
While you are walking around take note of smells and sounds. If you smell feces and urine down every hall then there is a problem. If people are tied to beds and chairs there is a problem. If people are screaming and yelling and running around naked there is a problem. You need to leave if this is what you find.
Is the facility mostly elderly individuals or rehab residents or do they have a population of mostly younger mental health patients. Keep in mind most state governments did away with mental health hospitals and now those clients are in the community and in nursing homes. If you are a placing a mentally ill person then it doesn't matter but if you are placing 90 year old grandma then leave. She will be defenseless when the schizophrenic drug addict goes postal and starts hurting people.
I have said this before but find a away to keep your loved one at home.
Don't even think about assisted living, they really are a huge waste of money. There is usually no licensed nurse about the place and in most states the person giving meds is a layperson.