Missing Carpentersville woman with dementia found safe

A 90-year-old woman with dementia who had been reported missing was found safe in a senior care facility, Carpentersville police said Wednesday.

Caroline Kasala had been gone from her Carpentersville home, where she lives with her son, since 11 a.m. Tuesday, police said. Authorities were later notified Kasala had been removed from her house that day and taken to a care facility, according to a news release from Carpentersville police.

Kasala's son got home from work late Tuesday night and assumed his mother was asleep, police said. After waking up the next morning to find Kasala was not in the house, he reported her missing about 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Authorities immediately began searching the area and set up a command post at St. Monica Parish. More than 100 people and several local emergency response teams participated in the search.

Carpentersville police also posted information on its Facebook page.

At 11:20 a.m., a representative from Senior Services Associates in Elgin who saw the Facebook post told police Kasala had been placed in the care facility, police said, and authorities called off the search.

Micki Miller, assistant executive director of Senior Services Associates, would not comment on any particular case or individual but said there are several reasons a senior could be taken from their home to a care facility.

It could be because of a particular safety issue, she said, or it could be at the request of the senior or the senior's family. Seniors can also be moved into a care facility if a particular case has been opened, such as an adult protective services case, Miller added.