A man has praised a shop for keeping his mother in work despite her developing dementia.

Doron Salomon said the Sainsbury’s store in Kenton had handled everything with “class and dignity” by allowing his mother to continue working at the shop even with her deteriorating memory from Alzheimer’s.

Mrs Salomon started working for Sainsbury’s in 2012 when she applied for a packing online shopping position.

Before then she worked as a bookkeeper.

However, a recent health assessment in 2017 revealed her Alzheimer’s was now advanced and she may have stop working.

She has worked for the company for six years.

Mr Salomon marked her final week at the company by posting an extended tribute on Twitter praising the shop’s support for his mother.

“Sainsbury’s have seen my mum deteriorate to the point that every day for the last year or so she has gone into the store confused, as if she’d never been there before.

"They have always stood by her going above and beyond to make sure she’s happy and feeling valued.”

As Mrs Salomon’s memory continued to deteriorate over the last year increasingly limiting what she could do, the shop created roles just for her including cleaning jobs even if they had already been done. The store also reduced her hours and held regular welfare meetings with her family.

Mr Salomon said: “To my mum, cleaning tote boxes became the most important job in the world. If she didn’t do it the store would fall apart. The sense of self-worth and pride has undeniably helped with aspects of her Alzheimer’s, such as giving her something to talk about in social situations.”

Her family feared that on several occasions her employment would have to end. But each time the shop called Mr Salomon’s father about his wife, it was simply to notify him of their concern for her and to ask what more they could do to help, Mr Salomon said.

He added senior management have acted with compassion and handled everything with “class and dignity.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK has applauded the news that retailer Sainsbury’s helped an employee to remain at work for as long as possible following a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “Doron’s mum was a much loved colleague and an inspiration to all of us. We’d like to thank her for her years of service and wish her all the best for the future.”