Megan Combs

Megan Combs was Associate Editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long Term Living from 2013-2018.

CA advocates sue to stop illegal unloading of nursing home residents

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and three nursing home residents have filed a lawsuit against the state saying it is allegedly illegally allowing residents to be "dumped" from nursing homes to hospitals. Read More »

Briggs, LG partner to improve patient assessment automation

Briggs Healthcare and LG CNS Company have partnered to facilitate compliance and create efficiencies for clinical teams. Read More »

Study: Extended use of Alzheimer’s drug could delay move to nursing home

Extending the use of Alzheimer's drug donepezil has been found to reduce a person's likelihood of moving into a nursing home. Read More »

Widow says Robin Williams lived with Lewy Body Dementia

More than a year after his suicide, Robin Williams' widow opens up about the actor's struggle with Lewy Body Dementia. Read More »

New video training solution designed to improve cognitive abilities

The Functional Brain Trainer is the first adaptive motion-interaction brain training platform. Read More »

Dementia healthcare costs greater than any other disease

Healthcare costs associated with dementia are 57 percent greater than costs associated with any other disease, including cancer. Read More »

IU awarded $2.2M grant to study end-of-life planning tool

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis will study the use of an advance-care planning tool that will help ensure residents' end-of-life treatment preferences are upheld. Read More »

MeHI awards $1M tech grants to 15 LTC organizations

The Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech has awarded 15 long-term care and post-acute organizations $1 million in total as a part of its eQuality Incentive Program. Read More »

Stanford Hospital to conduct study on pressure ulcer prevention

Stanford Hospital will study patient turning and will help coordinate and optimize efforts to prevent pressure ulcers. Read More »

Cancer drug could reverse Parkinson’s and dementia

A drug that has already been approved to treat leukemia has been found to dramatically reduce symptoms of Parkinson's and dementia. Read More »

Social media use triples among seniors

If your facility isn't on social media, the latest results from a Pew Research Center survey, could convince you to change your marketing plan. Read More »

What is the most common misconception about dementia?

After reviewing 40 research articles from 15 different countries, researchers found that the general public has a limited understanding of dementia.  Read More »

Underweight people face higher dementia risk

Researchers have found that people who are underweight or even on the low side of normal weight in their middle ages run a higher risk of dementia as they age. Read More »

Researchers find gene that may prevent Parkinson’s, dementia

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, have discovered that non-inheritable Parkinson's disease may be caused by changes in the immune regulating gene Interferon-beta. Read More »

CMS launches ACO kidney dialysis model

The new accountable care organization model creates a shared-cost program for end-stage renal disease. Read More »

Former assisted living CEO ordered to pay $4.2M in occupancy fraud case

Former Assisted Living Concepts CEO Laurie Bebo was convicted of multiple violations of securities laws. Read More »

Researchers find increased use of opioids in seniors with COPD

Researchers raise safety concerns about the increasing rate of new opioid use among seniors with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read More »

Calif. governor signs ‘right to die’ bill

The controversial bill will allow physicians in the state to prescribe life-ending medications to those with a terminal illness who wish to end their lives. Read More »

Sabra REIT acquires nine senior living facilities for $84.7M

Five facilities are memory care facilities in Illinois and assisted living units in Washington and Oregon. Read More »

AARP Innovation Fund aims to improves lives of seniors with tech

AARP and J.P. Morgan Asset Management will provide $40 million in assets to companies focusing on improving the lives of people ages 50 and older. Read More »

CCRCs keep stable rating for third straight year

Capital spending continues to increase for continuing care retirement communities, according to a Fitch Ratings report. Read More »

Census: Senior women have higher poverty rate than men

The United States Census Income and Poverty report found 14.7 percent of women over at 75 are living in poverty. Read More »

Researchers find link between stress and Alzheimer’s development

While stress is usually associated with the development of depression, anxiety and more, researchers have also found a connection between stress and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Read More »

Judge acquits former ACHCA chair of alleged corruption charges

In 2014, Larry Slatky was charged with allegedly giving a laundry contract for a publicly run nursing home to a friend's company instead of hiring the lowest bidder. Read More »

Three-drug combination found to treat MRSA

New research shows that a combination of three antibiotics could be helpful in fighting MRSA. Read More »

Report: Are too many ‘repeat offender’ SNFs still accepting new residents?

The Coalition for Quality Care releases a new report citing repeat violations in nursing homes across the nation. Read More »

Is teledentistry coming to a senior living community near you?

The University of the Pacific is working on a teledentistry initiative that aims to bring preventive dental care to underserved Californians in senior housing communities. Read More »

Regulators: 13 Massachusetts nurses commit license fraud

State regulators revoked or suspended the licenses of 13 nurses after discovering that the caregivers lied about having nursing degrees or being licensed in other states. Read More »

Griffin-American REIT acquires Trilogy Health for $1.12B

Griffin-American Healthcare REIT acquired Trilogy Investors LLC, the parent company of Trilogy Health Services LLC. Read More »

Study: Women bear the brunt of Alzheimer’s care costs

A new study finds women bear six times the burden of cost for Alzheimer's disease care, per capita, than men do. Read More »