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Home / Lifestyle

'They supported her like a family' - Supermarket chain hailed for treatment of employee

Daily Mail
5 Mar, 2018 08:53 PM5 mins to read

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Doron Salomon's mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years but her employer worked with her and her family to keep her in her job.

Doron Salomon's mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years but her employer worked with her and her family to keep her in her job.

The son of a supermarket worker diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago has revealed in an "uplifting" post on social media how Sainsbury's in the UK fought to keep her job open and handled her condition with "compassion, class and dignity".

Doron Salomon has seen his emotional thread praising Sainbury's go viral after he detailed the lengths staff at the store, in Harrow, North London, went to to keep his mother, who he doesn't want to name, employed in a job she loves.

Wouldn't usually do something like this but there is a lot of good out there. A thread of thanks to @sainsburys...

— Doron Salomon (@DoronSalomon) March 4, 2018
Part of Doron Salomon's thread - you can read the entire Twitter thread by clicking on the link above photo.
Part of Doron Salomon's thread - you can read the entire Twitter thread by clicking on the link above photo.

Doron says the supermarket has helped to "normalise" his mother's life over the last few years as her illness has deteriorated, giving her self-worth when "she was quite literally losing everything she once was".

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The supermarket giant in return said their former employee had been an "inspiration".

The tweets posted over the weekend tell the story of how the 61-year-old, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in her early 50s, has now served her last day working in the store after five years of employment, where she started shortly before her diagnosis.

After being forced to give up her career as a bookkeeper as the illness took hold, Doron's mother applied for and got a job picking in-store for online deliveries in 2012.

When the store was made aware of an official diagnosis less than a year later, Doron reveals his family expected his mother to be told she couldn't be employed.

However, he explains that Sainsbury's instead did everything they could to ensure she stayed working at the store.

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He writes that the company "offered regular re-training; changed her hours; had regular welfare meetings with her and my dad; ensured her colleagues were aware of her condition so they were able to help her".

No, thank YOU Mrs Salomon. https://t.co/7EwoUAWIx0

— Sainsbury's (@sainsburys) March 5, 2018

Doron adds that they "even created a role that didn't exist so that there was something in-store she could do despite the fact her job title has never changed from 'picker'."

Before his mother finally left the store last week, she was given the task of cleaning tote boxes, something which "became the most important job in the world" to her.

Her condition has deteriorated to such an extent in the last year that she would arrive for work often confused.

Doron told MailOnline: "I think Sainsbury's normalised her life. They served as a reminder of her self-worth every day at a time when she was quite literally losing everything she once was.

"They were more than just an employer but supported her like a family. They made her struggle lighter and brighter."

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."

Doron revealed that he shared his mother's story on Twitter in the hope that it will raise awareness and persuade people to donate to fight the disease.

After reading the thread, many applauded Sainsbury's for the store's actions.

What a lovely thread. Wish more employers were as compassionate and understanding. Well wishes to your mum and kudos to Sainsbury’s! ⭐️

— stef oc (@doublefsteff) March 4, 2018

One of the best tweets I've read in a long time. Well done @sainsburys this is an excellent example of leadership at all levels.

— Angus Turnbull (@AngusTurnbull) March 4, 2018

Finally, whilst this is really sad: something positive to hear about and it restores faith that good things can and do still happen . Well done to both the staff at Kenton Sainsbury’s and Sainsbury’s. Wishing your mum and family strength to face an uncertain future

— Chris Lynda (@allwayschatting) March 4, 2018

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.

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This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink.

More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death.

WHAT HAPPENS?

As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost.

That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason.

The progress of the disease is slow and gradual.

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On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years.

EARLY SYMPTOMS:

Loss of short-term memory

Disorientation

Behavioral changes

Mood swings

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Difficulties dealing with money or making a phone call

LATER SYMPTOMS:

Severe memory loss,

forgetting close family members,

familiar objects or places

Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world, leading to aggressive behavior

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Eventually lose ability to walk

May have problems eating

The majority will eventually need 24-hour care

Source: Alzheimer's Association

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