Senior Living Operator Spotlight: David Finkelstein (RiverSpring Living)

This week, I had the privilege of interviewing David Finkelstein, Chief Information Officer at RiverSpring Living. RiverSpring Living is a nonprofit long-term care organization based in the Bronx that offers the full continuum of care for older adults. 

— Sarah Richard

P.S. - If you’re an AgeTech founder, investor, or operator based in the NYC area, please consider joining us at November’s AgeTech NYC Panel.

Could you introduce yourself and share a bit about RiverSpring Living?

David Finkelstein: "I'm the Chief Information Officer at RiverSpring Living, a 107-year-old nonprofit long-term care organization based in the Bronx. We provide a continuum of care for aging adults, including skilled nursing, independent living, assisted living, home healthcare and managed care plans. Altogether, our organization serves about 18,000 New Yorkers all throughout the 5 boroughs. And coming in January, we'll be opening up a PACE site in Brooklyn, a program for all inclusive adult day care. Our mission is to serve the underserved, particularly Medicaid recipients, with high-quality, comprehensive care."

What is RiverSpring's unique approach to technology investment?

David Finkelstein: "Thanks to a generous donation from Rita Hauser and the Hauser Foundation, we established a technology fund dedicated to improving resident care, staff efficiency, and financial savings. Gus Houser, the patient who passed away was very well renowned for being one of the founders of Warner Communications, the company that became Time Warner Cable, and was very active in the technology industry. We focus on pilot projects with the potential to scale, and we involve staff and residents in the decision-making process."

What projects are you most excited about right now?

David Finkelstein: "One of our biggest successes is the ZeroG robot, which helps patients recovering from surgery regain mobility. Another innovation is AccuVein, a device that makes it easier to find veins for IVs or blood draws. Both have significantly improved patient care and staff efficiency."

What advice would you give to early-stage founders in AgeTech?

David Finkelstein: "Be assertive about selling your vision, but also ensure that your product is scalable and secure. As healthcare providers, we have to prioritize patient safety and long-term viability, so it's crucial that startups are ready to meet those standards. Also, don't fear AI—just ensure it has practical applications and can be integrated safely."