Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland at yesterday’s foundation ceremony at Maison de Quetteville. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0579581)

BAILIFF GEOFFREY ROWLAND laid the foundation stone of Maison de Quetteville yesterday. Work on the new ‘Maison Million’ Alzheimer’s and dementia care unit started in November and is due for completion in the final quarter of 2009.

It is costing more than £6m. to build and £1m. of that has to come from public fund-raising. The Guernsey Press launched the home appeal in April last year to raise money for the 29-bed care facility that will be connected to Maison L’Aumone.

Events and donations have so far raised £734,000 and Mr Rowland said yesterday’s ceremony marked a fantastic achievement. ‘We know that this facility will be of considerable benefit to our community,’ he said.

‘We know that people experiencing dementia – and there are an estimated 750,000 in the British Isles – suffer loss of memory, confusion, loss of judgement and problems with speech and reasoning, with an inevitable impact on communication abilities. They suffer changes in mood and behaviour as well.’