By Paula Hurt

Katy Hoffman recently was honored as the recipient of the 2022 Peg Deaton Leadership in Aging Award.

She has been serving the people of Johnson County in various capacities for more than 40 years. Beginning September 2011, Katy began serving Johnson County seniors through her appointment to the Commission on Aging. Katy was an active member of the COA until she exhausted her terms limit in 2020.

Katy served the COA during an interesting time as the COA was becoming more politically active on aging issues on the state and county levels. During this time, the COA began to advocate for equal representation of women on the Johnson County Silver-Haired Legislators delegation.

When an opportunity became available, Katy accepted then AAA Director Dan Goodman’s appointment as one of the few women to serve as a Johnson County SHL legislator. Katy has made continued progress over her years of service in the SHL.

Her good nature and ability to use reason to work with a variety of people who hold different points of view on issues has afforded her the opportunity to further serve the aging community by becoming one of the two State SHL vice presidents. Katy has been one of the more influential SHL members in
considering and advocating to the Kansas Legislature in gaining increases in Senior Care Act funding.

Katy has found that the more she becomes involved in her volunteer activities, the more knowledge she acquires which leads to knowing resources and contacts that can help in advocating for older Kansans. In turn, Katy is a trusted advocate regarding issues unique to seniors by aging advocates and community-based organizations.

Paula Hurt is a COA member.