How we as a culture treat our parents and grandparents is a crime.
I have only been to two different ones and they were excellent. I'm sure the type you describe exist but I haven't seen them.
Yes, they are not places you would wish to place your loved one. I saw an article in our local paper today about a program in Vermont where the state pays $80 per day to a home (a relative) caregiver. They were saying it was cheaper than the $125 per day they had to pay to a nursing home and the care was much better. I plan to call my LTC guy and ask, if this becomes a common thing throughout the US, will my LTC cover a relative providing care in my (or their) home. It really makes a lot of sense. Many people want to care for their relatives but can't stand the financial hit. Since we (in the form of our government) are going to pay anyway why not get better care for the elderly for less cost if possible.