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Mears staff have been challenged to work in their local communities to tackle the debilitating issues of isolation and loneliness. These devastating problems often affect people with dementia and can be reduced by ensuring they have the facilities to take part in social activities. As part of National Volunteering Week, Mears staff in Gateshead decided to support Appleton Lodge, their local Extra Care Dementia Homes, by redecorating the hairdressing salon and exercise room.Appleton Lodge in Spennymoor, County Durham offers excellent extra care for people with dementia. It is a purpose built facility which provides many opportunities for social interaction. Key to this is the hairdressing salon and exercise room, both rooms had become tired looking and were less appealing to the residents.Shona O’Connor, Sheltered Housing Assistant from Appleton Lodge said: “We were so pleased when Mears approached us about a project and I knew immediately the rooms we needed help with. I couldn’t be happier with the result, the resident’s love the brighter new rooms and without Mears help we would not have been able to update them.”Debbie Kerr, Mears Customer Care Manager Gateshead said: “We are dedicated to supporting our communities and finding ways to tackle isolation and loneliness. One of the really difficult aspects of growing older is that you can gradually become isolated and experience feelings of loneliness. This is even worse for people living with dementia, so we decided to take the opportunity to do something about it.Appleton Lodge is a fantastic extra care scheme which supports people with dementia, the rooms were in need of redecoration and we were delighted to help.”