Horror moment ‘dead’ woman, 66, found ALIVE and gasping in body bag at funeral home

A CARE facility has been billed $10,000 after a woman was found gasping at a funeral home after being presumed dead.

A 66-year-old resident at the Glen Oaks Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Urbandale, Iowa, has been under the care of a hospice since late December 2022, state investigators said.

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In the early morning of January 3, a worker checked the woman and found no pulse or signs of breathing.

The worker – it’s unclear if she was an assistant, a licensed nurse or some other type of employee – said the patient’s eyes had been open, but she “felt the resident had passed away.”

“She felt her neck against the carotid artery and listened to her chest,” the report said.

“She did not feel a pulse and the resident was not breathing at the time. She felt the resident had passed away and notified the nurse.”

A nurse was briefed on the incident and also told investigators that no breath sounds or pulse could be detected — even using a stethoscope.

The resident’s family, along with a funeral home, were called to collect the woman’s body.

A funeral director arrived at the care facility at 7.38am, about an hour after the woman was found, and placed her on a stretcher in a cloth body bag before zipping it up.

Nearly an hour later, at 8:26 a.m., the undertaker opened the bag and saw the woman’s chest move and she was “gasping for air.”

Paramedics were called to attend to the woman and reported that her eyes were fixed, she was nonverbal and showed no motor responses.

The woman was taken to a hospital and eventually returned to the care facility, but died two days later with her family by her side.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals issued two state violations against Glen Oaks, resulting in a $10,000 fine.

The department said the facility failed to treat residents with dignity and provide end-of-life residents with adequate care and services.

Lisa Eastman, chief executive of the care facility, released a statement on the incident on Wednesday.

“We have been in close communication with the resident’s family and have just completed an investigation into the matter by the Department of Inspections and Appeals.

“We care deeply about our residents and remain fully committed to supporting their care at the end of life.

“All staff receive regular training to provide the best possible support for end-of-life care and the death of our residents.”