Janelle Hawe: Inspiring Port Macquarie dementia care advocate shares joy she finds in beloved support poodle Miguel

This Mid-North Coast woman worked in the health sector for decades and knows she’ll gradually lose everything to dementia - she’s already lost her marriage and job. But Janelle Hawe is clinging to humour and support poodle Miguel as long as she can.

Miguel Hawe, a standard poodle, provides extraordinary support for Port Macquarie woman Janelle Hawe, who lives with early onset dementia. picture: Supplied

Port Macquarie woman Janelle Hawe knows she will gradually lose everything to dementia - she’s already lost her marriage and her job - but she’s clinging to her sense of humour and beloved support dog Miguel for as long as she can.

Ms Hawe, 56, was diagnosed with early onset dementia about four years ago.

She worked in the health sector for decades and knows what awaits her and she has become an advocate for others struggling to navigate a similar path.

Ms Hawe had to stop working in her community health role, but said her dementia patients were her “favourite ones”.

She has also worked as a trainer and assessor of others working with dementia patients.

Janelle with her dogs Miguel and Sassy.

Ironically, it was during some of her regular trips to assess other workers that she started to forget where she was meant to be going.

“I also found it hard to follow conversations particularly if there were three or four people involved or to follow the storyline in a movie,” she said.

It took about four years for Janelle to be diagnosed which she says is “pathetic”.

“They just put it down to stress.”

Dementia can happen to anybody, according to Dementia Australia, but it is much more common after age 65. It is a brain condition, not a normal part of ageing, and affects mood, memory, thinking and behaviour.

More than 421,000 Australians live with dementia and it is the leading cause of death for women - and the second leading cause of death overall.

Miguel and Janelle Hawe from Port Macquarie.

Staring down her inevitable decline - Ms Hawe faces eventually forgetting how to eat, or even breathe - Ms Hawe is clinging to the joy each day brings.

“I take each day as it comes and use humour a lot because one day I will lose that too.”

Part of that joy has also come in the form of poodle Miguel, who has become her constant companion and a vital supporter.

“Sometimes I don’t sleep so I’m up at all hours of the night, but he’s with me 24 hours a day - I can count on him night and day for a hug.”

“I can always rely on him and I feel safe with him - he’s my world.”

Miguel loves dress up days at doggie daycare.

Miguel is learning to respond to key words like “return” that Ms Hawe can use if she is lost and to remind her to take her medication.

“He’s just so intuitive. He loves to go for walks but he also loves to sit and watch people - he’s a real observer.”

Miguel attends doggie daycare twice a week and loves dress up days.

Meanwhile, his owner has thrown herself into her advocacy work. She documents the journey on her @gigi69 Instagram account using the hashtag #nellsdementialife.

Ms Hawe was recently involved in the To Whom I May Concerncollaboration between the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Group Homes Australia, UNSW and Dementia Australia.

Janelle Hawe at front right with other participants in the To Whom I May Concern collaboration sharing stories of living with dementia through theatre and live music. Picture: Instagram

Ms Hawe and others shared their stories of living with dementia through theatre and live music.

She is also an advocate for allowing those with dementia to access voluntary assisted dying.

“Why shouldn’t I have the choice when I have the capacity?”

“To have voluntary assisted dying you have to be dying, but when you are dying of dementia you don’t have the capacity.”

Janelle would like that choice to be incorporated into her advanced care plan so an elected guardian can make the decision.

“There is so much suffering and everyone puts their lives on hold.”

“My brain is slowly dying and eventually I won’t remember how to breathe or go to the toilet and be a complete ball of nothingness.”

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Originally published as Janelle Hawe: Inspiring Port Macquarie dementia care advocate shares joy she finds in beloved support poodle Miguel