At Daybreak in Oak Harbor, a simple conversation about the weather turns into so much more.

“Some of these folks have been through amazing weather in their lives,” said Kristi Huffman, director of Adult Day Services for Senior Services of Island County. “The ability to reminisce is huge.”

Daybreak in Oak Harbor is one of two adult day care operations on the island, the other being Time Together which meets at the Bayview Senior Center.

Adult day care offers respite and support for caregivers and the people for whom they care.

“There is such a need on this island for respite care with many caregivers suffering through each day until they are physically and emotionally exhausted and have to relinquish care to a long-term care facility,” Huffman said. “Adult day care enables the caregiver to continue care in their home by providing much needed rest and support.”

Even if a caregiver isn’t in need of respite — as in the case of Dorothy Ingwersen who is cared for by Suzan Bartlett and the staff of Oak Harbor Adult Family Home — the benefits remain important.

“It’s as much about giving a caregiver a break as it is giving seniors socialization,” Bartlett said. “It’s nice for them to get out, meet others and feel better about themselves.”

Finding Daybreak was a godsend for the Hamernik family. Gene Hamernik said the respite helped prolong her ability to care for her husband, Joe, on her own.

While Joe now resides at HomePlace assisted living, it wasn’t until Joe began experiencing heart blocks a few weeks ago that his devoted wife even considered giving up the caregiver responsibilities.

The Hamerniks marked their 59th wedding anniversary this past December. Already, Gene misses her husband’s presence but is at peace with her decision.

“I’m hoping that they’ll be able to give him better care than I could,” she said.

Joe was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 and Alzheimer’s in 2002. He was a 30-year Navy veteran who, after his retirement, traveled the world with his lovely wife. Even in the last decade the duo made trips to Branson, Mo., and Disney World. They cruised the St. Lawrence River to renew their vows for their 50th anniversary.

For Gene, taking care of her husband was one of the greatest gifts of her life.

It is for people like her that Jim Self, executive director of Senior Services of Island County, said adult day services are geared.

“One of our biggest challenges is to convince caregivers that when they need help it’s not a failure,” Self said.

Self said he understands their pressure.

“The son, daughter or spouse thinks ‘OK, they took care of me, it’s my turn to take care of them’,” he said.

But people need to realize, taking care of the elderly doesn’t end at five o’clock, Bartlett said.

“The people at Daybreak understand the importance of keeping spirit going in everyone who comes in there,” Gene Hamernik said.

The adult day care programs do this each week with a variety of scheduled activities in which people can choose to participate. Huffman works with program directors to tailor activities to the likes and dislikes of the guests and their abilities and disabilities. From simple conversation time to gentle exercise sessions, the activities are meant to give mental stimulation and social interaction.

Both adult day care facilities were started in the mid- to late-1990s with the help of island churches. Daybreak was first and was originally housed in the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. Time Together was organized by a group from St. Augustine’s Episcopal in Freeland and housed in the United Methodist Church in Langley. Senior Services of Island County has long contracted to help lead the organization of the adult day services to ensure the longevity of both programs that have seen much growth since their inception.

Daybreak outgrew the church and is now housed in a manufactured home that resides on Whidbey Avenue, adjacent to the Oak Harbor Senior Center on Jerome Street. Time Together meets at the Bayview Senior Center.

Services are offered three days a week at both the north and south end, but Huffman would like to see that expand in the future.

“We’ll tailor our services to suit the caregivers’ needs, but the community needs to know we’re here before we can do that,” Huffman said. “Many folks aren’t even aware of either facility.”

Self agrees the Oak Harbor facility is under utilized.

Huffman mentions a goal of offering respite five days a week, like she’d been doing at her previous post in Skagit County, but she understands much has to be done first.

“That’s a huge leap and right now we’re just trying to build awareness for our current programs,” she said.

For Huffman, the care she offers visiting seniors is all about keeping them active.

Everybody has an “old button,” Self said, it just doesn’t get turned on until you say so.

“If they’re fortunate to be active we want to keep them active,” Huffman said. “We ask them to do the best of their abilities and then look at how we can stretch those abilities.”

The adult day care programs on Whidbey receive funding from the Northwest Regional Council on Aging, Island County government and client fees. Daybreak also receives money and facility care from the city of Oak Harbor.

Huffman recently brought on a grant writer to seek out more funds for the adult day care and respite programs.

Private donors also help financially, but there is always a need for support to meet the $75,000 annual budget for each adult day program. It is a community effort to keep the programs running, and Self would like to invite people to join the push.

The biggest need at Daybreak in Oak Harbor is volunteers, Self said. And anyone volunteering should realize the importance of their commitment.

“I’ve already established deep connections with these people. They want to know you’ll be there for them when you say you will,” she said.

Huffman took over the adult day services director position Feb. 1 from former director Rosemary Leahy.

She comes to the position with 13 years experience in adult daycare management in Skagit County, for what is now the Bradford House Adult Day Service.

Previously, she was a nurse for 22 years and actually earned her initial nurse’s aide certificate while a junior in high school.

“That sparked it. I knew that healthcare was something I always wanted to do,” she said.

She became a licensed practical nurse in 1984 and soon migrated toward senior care.

“There’s just something special about being able to take people through their last years of life,” Huffman said. “These people have so much experience, so much life and the opportunity of being with them is immeasurable.”

Huffman, whose maiden name is Baskala, moved to Oak Harbor in 1963. She attended Oak Harbor schools and married local boy Carl Huffman. The North Whidbey resident had been commuting to Skagit County during her tenure there so she’s glad to be returning to work for her hometown.

“I feel the city cared for me and now it’s my turn to care for it,” she said.