A VISITING government adviser on Alzheimer’s has reinforced the message that is so crucial to our own Maison Million Appeal.

Barbara Pointon, who was in the island to speak at the local branch’s AGM, said that the quality of life for sufferers and their families is directly linked with the level of care.

And she is speaking from the heart.

As our page five story today shows, she not only witnessed the disease first-hand while she cared for her husband, she also shared their difficult family story with millions of others through an ITV documentary.

It’s a harrowing tale that will resonate with many islanders.

And it is one that is set to become increasingly poignant, as more and more of us end up affected by this cruel disease that attacks every physical function.

During their battle, which lasted 16 years, one of the biggest problems she encountered was a lack of trained staff and suitable accommodation.

Which is why the new 29-bed Maison de Quetteville specialist dementia care facility being built at Maison L’Aumone will be such a benefit to our community.

Thanks to the generosity of our readers, the Maison Million appeal launched by the Guernsey Press last year has gone from strength to strength.

Your reaction inspired enough confidence for building to begin, thanks to the directors of Methodist Homes for the Aged.

Already the structure is in place and this life-changing service will soon be a reality that will eventually help hundreds of islanders.

With the additional support of several local benefactors and, of course, the charity concert featuring internationally acclaimed tenor Jose Carreras, we are almost at our magic million-pound target.

But we need one last push to get there.

Latest figures show that one in five people over the age of 80 has dementia. Sooner rather than later one in three will be touched in some way by the disease.

As the adviser, who praised highly Guernsey’s planned facility, said, it is an illness that devastates lives.

If you feel you can help in any way, please do.