Final answer:
To investigate a suspicious death in a nursing home, the appropriate action is to contact the state agency that oversees healthcare facilities, which maintains records on licensing status, ensuring accuracy and legality in the investigation.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you are investigating a suspicious death in a nursing home and need to find out whether the home is licensed, the most professional and accurate step to take would be to contact the appropriate state agency.
This action is official and ensures that the information gathered is accurate and legally obtained as part of an investigation. State agencies regulate and oversee healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, and maintain records of their licensing status. It would not be professional or necessarily reliable to ask a friend or informal entity.
Depending on the state, the specific agency might be called something like the "Department of Health" or "Bureau of Facility Licensing." The steps involved typically include reaching out to the agency via phone or through their official website, where public records can often be accessed.