Hospice Care Under Scrutiny After Woman Pronounced Dead Found Breathing at Funeral Home

Daniela P on June 5, 2024

Funeral Home Staff Shocked to Find “Deceased” Woman Alive 

In a stunning turn of events, staff at the Butherus-Maser & Love Funeral Home in Lincoln, Nebraska, discovered that a 74-year-old woman, who had been pronounced dead at a hospice earlier that day, was still breathing. The incident has raised serious concerns about the quality of care provided in hospice facilities and the potential for hospice care abuse.

5 Key Points

  • Constance Glantz, 74, was declared dead at a hospice and transferred to a funeral home.
  • A funeral home employee discovered Glantz was still breathing while preparing her body.
  • The employee immediately called 911, and funeral home staff performed CPR on Glantz.
  • A doctor had seen Glantz at the hospice who signed her death certificate.
  • The incident has prompted an investigation into potential hospice care abuse.

Woman Declared Dead at Hospice, Transferred to Funeral Home

Constance Glantz, a 74-year-old woman, was believed to have passed away while receiving care at a hospice facility in Nebraska. After being pronounced dead, Glantz was transferred to the Butherus-Maser & Love Funeral Home in Lincoln on Monday morning. However, a shocking discovery was made when a funeral home employee who was preparing Glantz’s body for the funeral realized that she was still breathing.

Funeral Home Employee Calls 911, Staff Performs CPR

Upon discovering that Glantz was alive, the funeral home employee “instantly called 911,” according to Lancaster County Chief Deputy Ben Houchin. The authorities were immediately summoned to the funeral home, and the staff began performing CPR on Glantz before she was transported to a local hospital.

Doctor Signed Death Certificate at Hospice

The incident has raised questions about the procedures followed at the hospice facility where Glantz was receiving care. Before being transferred to the funeral home, Glantz had been seen by a doctor at the hospice who signed her death certificate, declaring her deceased.

Investigation Underway, No Criminal Charges Pending

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident. Chief Deputy Houchin stated, “We have not been able to find any criminal intent by the nursing home, but the investigation is ongoing.” Despite the alarming nature of the incident, no criminal charges are currently pending.

Concerns About Hospice Care Abuse and Quality of Care

This unusual case has brought attention to the issue of hospice care abuse and the quality of care provided in hospice facilities. The fact that a woman was wrongly pronounced dead and nearly buried alive highlights the need for stringent oversight and improved practices in hospice care to ensure the safety and well-being of patients.

Tornadoes Wreak Havoc in the Midwest

Daniela P on April 27, 2024

Residents Assess Damage Following Tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa

On Friday night, tornadoes tore through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, and parts of Iowa, causing widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Residents in the affected areas have begun the daunting task of assessing the destruction and cleaning up the debris left in the wake of the powerful storms.

5 Key Points

  • Tornadoes caused significant damage in suburban Omaha, Nebraska, and Minden, Iowa.
  • No fatalities have been reported, but there have been several injuries, none life-threatening.
  • Power outages peaked at 10,000 in Omaha but had dropped to 4,300 by Saturday morning.
  • An industrial building collapsed in Lancaster County, Nebraska, with 70 people inside, but all were evacuated safely.
  • The National Weather Service continues to evaluate the number and strength of the tornadoes, while issuing new tornado watches for parts of Texas and Oklahoma.

Assessing the Damage

In the Elkhorn neighborhood of Omaha, residents woke up to the sounds of chainsaws as they began clearing the debris from their damaged homes. Pat Woods, an Elkhorn resident, described the scene: “When we came up, our fence was gone and we looked to the northwest and the whole neighborhood’s gone.”

Omaha police Lt. Neal Bonacci reported that the fire department had completed its search of damaged homes and structures, with only minor injuries reported. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds planned to tour the affected areas and assess the damage.

Industrial Building Collapse and Airport Disruption

One of the tornadoes hit an industrial building in Lancaster County, Nebraska, causing it to collapse with 70 people inside. Fortunately, everyone was evacuated, and the three injuries reported were not life-threatening. Sheriff’s officials also reported a tipped-over train near Waverly, Nebraska.

Another tornado passed over the eastern edge of Omaha, directly through parts of Eppley Airfield, the city’s airport. Although the passenger terminal was not hit, airport officials had to halt aircraft operations to assess the damage before reopening the facility.

Devastation in Minden, Iowa

The small town of Minden, Iowa, was hit particularly hard by the tornadoes, with 40 to 50 homes completely destroyed. Two non-life-threatening injuries were reported. Jeff Theulen, chief deputy of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, described the scene as “heartbreaking” and urged people to stay away due to downed power lines.

The Minden United Church of Christ, which survived the storm, has become a community hub for help and support. Pastor Eric Biehl said, “A lot of people are just kind of in shock. It’s all overwhelming now.”

Ongoing Tornado Threat

As residents begin the recovery process, the National Weather Service continues to monitor the situation and issue new tornado watches. Meteorologist Bruce Thoren warned of the possibility of “significant tornadoes” in parts of Texas and Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon and evening.