Spotlight on: Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging

Spotlight on: Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging

Named for Minnesota's northernmost scenic drive, which travels along the Rainy River from Voyageurs National Park near the Canadian border west to North Dakota, the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging supports a 21-county area. Like the scenic drive it’s named for, Dancing Sky covers a vast area of mostly rural communities. Because of this, it encounters both challenges and opportunities.

Dancing Sky is a program of the Northwest Regional Development Commission and collaborates with many partners and providers. They coordinate the pass-through funding intended to enrich the lives of older adults and their caregivers and operate the highly rated Senior LinkAge Line services.

“We play a unique role in our communities. We want older adults to thrive. That differs from community to community. Above all, we work to fill service gaps and focus on the needs of those we serve. The Older Americans Act, along with the Senior Linkage Line, is the core of what we do.” - Heather Pender, Dancing Sky director

Heather Pender has worked for Dancing Sky for ten years and is now entering her third year as director. She is proud of their collaborative work and successes and calls Dancing Sky “the best-kept secret" in the region.

Dancing Sky clients and staff participate in a wellness activity together.

The Older Americans Act funds various services designed to help older persons secure and maintain independence and dignity in a home environment, remove barriers for older persons, and provide a continuum of care for older and vulnerable adults. Additional services support family, friends, and neighbors who care for older persons, grandparents, and older relatives who care for children. Service options includes community classes, educational presentations, caregiver resources, support groups, respite care, congregate nutrition, and home-delivered meals.

The Senior LinkAge Line offers information, connects people to services, and provides help making informed personalized decisions. Phone specialists are also certified health insurance counselors who can assist with Medicare. In addition, Resource Coordinators help with in-depth person-centered planning for consumers and caregivers. They are focused on keeping people in their homes or returning them home from a care facility.

Above all, Heather says, there is “no wrong door” when people contact Dancing Sky. "We connect them to where they need to be, even if it’s not us.”

“In rural Minnesota, our needs don't differ from those in the more urban areas, but living in a rural area does impact the ways we respond. There are fewer opportunities in rural areas, so we have learned to leverage what we have.” -- Heather Pender

Dancing Sky identifies possible partners by finding providers or organizations that can expand their services. Heather says that partners “wear so many hats, do so many things,” sometimes funds may need to be spread out over several providers, or providers may need to consider ways to implement grant funds successfully.

“It’s all about starting small and gaining. We are lucky to partner with providers who share the same mission, vision, goals, and view of health equity that we have.” - Heather Pender

Heather says that rural Minnesota communities are at a crucial point. Life in rural communities brings numerous challenges for older adults, such as limited access to services and supports, nursing home closures, and barriers to transportation, particularly for medical and accessible transportation. Shrinking service budgets don’t meet community needs, especially those used to fund senior meals.

“There is an urgent need for planning and services as more people age. We must advocate for funding for a rapidly growing senior population. Covid services helped to showcase this, but we need other funds. Now is not the time to rest when advocating for older adults.” – Heather Pender

This year, Dancing Sky received American Rescue Plan funding, and they have launched a pilot program in partnership with other Area Agencies on Aging and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The program will use the funds to reduce the risk of maltreatment of vulnerable adults. Referrals for services and support come directly from the counties.

In 2024, the Agency also provided technical assistance to communities to become more age-friendly and helped them focus on grants that can support that work. The Agency development team offers monthly webinars and a variety of trainings that promote Age-Friendly Minnesota status throughout the region.

Heather credits the success of Dancing Sky to the efforts of staff and partners. In 2025, she hopes to continue the advocacy work, secure more funds for senior nutrition, and maintain the adult protection pilot project.

“Everyone has a story related to aging. We are all here for a reason that's bigger than a paycheck. As an agency, we do our best to partner with providers doing great work, filling gaps, and meeting needs. It's a good feeling knowing that we are making a difference in someone's life." - Heather Pender