My gran was in residential care her last months and they were good to her, but it wasn't a nursing home. She was able to look after herself, with some help from my mum, pretty much 'til the end. Thankfully she deteriorated relatively quickly and only had a couple of weeks in hospital before she died. Good staff DO make a difference, not just to the patients, but to the families as well. Not everyone can take care of their loved ones at home, no metter how hard they try or how much they want to.