Nebraska Funeral Home Finds 74-Year-Old Hospice Patient Alive After Being Declared Dead

In a shocking turn of events, a 74-year-old hospice patient in Waverly, Nebraska, was declared dead by her nursing home only to be found alive at a funeral home hours later. Constance Glantz, who was receiving end-of-life care at The Mulberry nursing home, was pronounced dead on Monday morning.

The incident unfolded when Glantz was transported to Butherus-Maser & Love Funeral Home in Lincoln. Nearly two hours after being declared dead, a funeral home employee discovered she was still breathing. The workers immediately called 911 and began performing CPR on Glantz.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the importance of rigorous procedures in end-of-life care and the potential consequences of mistakes in declaring patients dead. It may lead to changes in protocols and procedures in nursing homes and funeral homes to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Glantz was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was admitted but died later that afternoon. Lancaster County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Ben Houchin described the case as 'very unusual,' stating, 'I've been doing this 31 years, and nothing like this has ever gotten to this point before.'

An investigation into the incident is currently underway. Houchin noted that there is no initial evidence of criminal intent by the nursing home. He explained that it is common for nursing homes not to call the sheriff's department when someone in hospice care dies, since the death is often anticipated.

Glantz had been seen by a physician within the last seven days, and the doctor was prepared to sign her death certificate. However, the discovery at the funeral home has prompted a review of the nursing home's protocols. 'I'm sure the nursing home and everybody are going to be taking a look into what has happened, and I'm sure they'll look to see if new protocols need to be made or if they were all followed,' Houchin added.

This incident is not isolated. Similar cases have occurred in recent years, including a woman in Iowa who was prematurely declared dead and placed in a body bag, only to wake up at a funeral home. The Iowa facility was fined $10,000. Another case in New York involved a woman who was found alive and breathing shortly after being declared dead at a nursing home.

The National Funeral Directors Association does not have recommended procedures for verifying death, as funeral directors rely on medical professionals to make such determinations. Jessica Koth, a spokeswoman for the association, commented on the emotional impact these incidents can have on families, stating, 'I can imagine how difficult it would be for the family as well to go on such an emotional roller-coaster'.

While the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring such incidents do not recur. The nursing home and funeral home are expected to review and possibly revise their protocols to prevent future occurrences.

As authorities work to understand how this mistake happened, the community is left struggling to come to terms with the implications of such a grave error. The incident serves as a sobering illustration of the importance of rigorous procedures in end-of-life care.

Key Takeaways

• A 74-year-old hospice patient in Nebraska was declared dead, but found alive at a funeral home hours later.
• The patient, Constance Glantz, was rushed to a hospital but died later that afternoon.
• An investigation is underway, with no initial evidence of criminal intent by the nursing home.
• The incident highlights the importance of rigorous procedures in end-of-life care to prevent similar mistakes.
• Similar cases have occurred in recent years, prompting reviews of protocols and procedures in nursing homes and funeral homes.