The basic difference between nursing homes and memory care is that memory care is exclusively for people with dementia while nursing homes are for people with almost any medical issue that makes living at home too difficult. Nursing homes offer a more clinical, hospital-like setting while memory care is more home-like.
Does putting someone in a nursing home accelerate their cognitive decline? One recent reputable study found that persons with dementia did no better or no worse than others because they were placed in a nursing home.