Long-Term Care

What do you look for in a nursing home or long-term care facility to make sure it offers quality?

We're touring nursing homes for Dad next week and I'm terrified of choosing the wrong one. I've heard so many nursing home horror stories and I'm scared to death of putting Dad somewhere awful. Any advice from those who've been through this would be so appreciated.

How do I bring up the topic of nursing home with my mother who's not keen on the idea?