An 83-year-old woman has been found after she was missing for more than 28 hours.

Yozo Horiuchi says his mother Atsuko, who has dementia, is alive today thanks to the Nassau County Police Department.

"Missings can travel far. You know, they wander around for two, three days and they don't stop moving, so we were kind of lucky that she stayed in a certain area," said Steve Kaminskey, of the department's aviation unit.

Police say Horiuchi went missing Monday afternoon while shopping with her husband in Great Neck.

She was found Tuesday around 11 p.m., in a wooded area by the LIE, also in Great Neck— almost 30 hours later.

"I don't think I've ever been involved in something like this where you get to meet the person and actually shake their hand and wish them well," said Mark Vitale, also from the aviation unit.

Police say members of the aviation unit, K9, patrol, missing persons, detectives and the community worked together to look for her.

"This is what we're about in Nassau County -- helping each other, helping our neighbors and thank the sweet lord we had such a beautiful ending to this very scary story," said County Executive Laura Curran.

Horiuchi and her family got to meet her rescuers Wednesday.

"We had to go down a mountain, around hills and water banks and thank God she's laying there with her eyes closed and we think the worst," said Sgt. Kevin Vargas. "As soon as he taps her, she opens her eyes."

Officers say they locked arms to make a human chain and get Horiuchi up the hillside to safety.

Police say Horiuchi was a little dehydrated when they found her, but otherwise OK.