AutumnGrove Cottage celebrates with housewarming   by Brandon De Hoyos August 10, 2005 After a year and a half of intense planning and construction, Copperfield became home to a new Alzheimer's community August 5 as AutumnGrove Cottage held an open house to welcome community members and leaders to this new home. The home, designed to significantly improve the quality of life and care for those living with Alzheimer's and related dementias, features 16-private bedrooms and one of the highest staff to resident ratios amongst area providers. Featuring warm hues of color and expert interior design, AutumnGrove Cottage co-founder Randy Vanstry says the home is built with the residents in mind. "We wanted to create something that felt like a home, not an institution or a medical facility," Vanstry said, with a broad smile. "The comments we have been getting from our visitors today is that we have hit the mark." In addition to private bedrooms for residents, the cottage also offers two large porch retreats, a large living room, dining room, open kitchens and colorful Alice's Garden, dedicated to the memory of landscape designer Tim Schultz's mother-in-law who recently died with Alzheimer's. Darcy Mingoia, president of the Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce, was just one of many community members who arrived in support and to tour the new home for the first time. "I have been very impressed with the warm, home-like atmosphere and the care that has been taken in building a place for Alzheimer's patients," Mingoia said.   The garden that was dedicated to the landscape architect's mother-in-law that has passed away is beautiful and everything here has been done with love and attention." On Aug. 22, Vanstry says AutumnGrove's dedicated caregivers will begin a week long orientation program before officially welcoming their first residents on Aug. 29. According to Maria Magee, development officer for the Houston and Southeast Texas chapter of the Alzheimer's Association nearly one in three American families are affected by Alzheimer's Disease "In Southeast Texas alone, there are an estimated 70,000 individuals livinig with Alzheimer's disease," says Magee. "Studies predict that by the year 2025, Texas will lead the nation in cases of Alzherimer's." Magee also says persons ages 65 and older have a one in ten chance in developing the disease, with the number jumping to 50 percent chance at ages 80 or older. On October 8, the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk'05 will be held in north Houston at the Texas Sports Medicine Center, 28120 Stat Hwy 249, at 7:30am. Magee says the event is the organization's largest annual fundraiser. The Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association currently serves 29 Texas counties, including Harris County. For more information on the Alzheimer's Association Memorial Walk'05, contact Sharlene Breci at 713-266-6400, extension 121, or visit www.alztex.org