How RiverWoods is Getting AI Right: Lessons from David Lafferty’s Approach
Not Another AI Presentation
Every conference I attend has at least one session on AI, and I make a point to go. As someone who gives talks on AI myself, I need to stay current on the latest trends, tools, and conversations.
That said, most of these sessions stick to the high-level “why” behind AI’s potential, often glossing over the practical “how” that operators and others need.
That’s why David Lafferty’s session stood out. As CIO of The Riverwoods Group, his talk; “AI in Aging Services: Elevate Care, Enhance Resident Well-Being and Optimize Efficiencies,” was refreshingly grounded, offering vision and actual, applicable insights for senior living providers.
What RiverWoods is Doing Today
What impressed me most about David’s session was how practical his examples were. At Riverwoods, AI isn’t some abstract, future-looking experiment—it’s being used right now to make everyday work easier and more efficient for staff.
David emphasized that their approach is centered on accessibility. Their goal isn’t to dazzle with complexity, but to ensure staff can use these tools as easily as emailing. This means prioritizing technologies that integrate smoothly into existing workflows and don’t require a computer science degree.
Here are a few examples he shared:
Meeting transcription and summarization: Online and offline real-time summarization of meetings
Job descriptions: Quickly create and revise relevant job descriptions personalized for RiverWoods
Contract review and analysis: Streamline review and identify key clauses, obligations, and risks
Interacting with private content: Using Microsoft Copilot to securely interact with RiverWoods data within its secure Azure tenant
Improved communications: Draft newsletters, activity announcements, or dining menus in friendly, readable formats
Training and policy summaries: Rewrite complex documents into plain language guides for non-technical staff
And the best part? These tools aren’t just about speed; they’re about elevating people.
AI is helping to boost the skills of newer team members, giving them confidence and support in their roles.
How RiverWoods is Approaching AI
What I was most excited to see was the framework on how David and his team are approaching AI. It is a replicable framework that allows for embracing AI in a structured way.
Their process is as follows:
Education: Build confidence and understanding of AI’s potential use cases
Brainstorm: Identify operational challenges where AI can drive efficiencies and improve decision-making
Collaborate: Break down silos and identify AI benefits for several functions
Prioritize: Focus resources on high-value and quick return
Empower Staff: Leverage existing RiverWoods data with tools and knowledge
Measure: Track both AI adoption and efficiency gains
This framework in place allows them to look ahead into their AI adoption.
Looking Ahead: Where RiverWoods Sees AI Going Next
While RiverWoods is already leveraging AI to improve staff efficiency and daily operations, David Lafferty also offered a compelling look into where the organization sees this technology heading. Their vision includes more advanced, real-time, and resident-centered applications, stretching far beyond content generation.
Here are a few of the future-facing innovations on RiverWoods’ radar:
From Static Reports to Intelligent Insights
RiverWoods is embracing the evolution of business intelligence from periodic, manual reports to interactive dashboards and eventually AI-driven decision support.
GPTs and AI agents will interpret natural language queries
Contextual responses tailored to specific roles
Real-time querying across disparate data sources
This leap promises smarter, faster, and more dynamic decision-making for leadership and staff alike.
Ambient AI Transcription
Real-time transcription tools are helping staff document clinical and resident interactions more accurately and efficiently, especially valuable in reducing note-taking during care delivery.
These tools capture and process spoken interactions on the fly
Helping staff stay present while ensuring records are complete and compliant
Beyond Gen AI: Expanding Use Cases
David shared examples of potential applications RiverWoods is exploring, such as:
Personalized memory care engagement
Fall prediction via pattern recognition and smart alerts
On-demand transportation coordination
Telehealth solutions that go beyond video calls
Contactless Monitoring and Smart Sensing
RiverWoods is investigating continual, passive monitoring systems that improve safety without sacrificing privacy:
UWB (Ultra-Wideband) sensors help track vital signs, movement, and environmental cues—all without the need for wearables.
AI-enabled cameras to enable greater fall prevention.
Telehealth Reimagined: FaceHeart Vitals
AI-powered telehealth tools, using available technology in smart phones or tablets are pushing the boundaries by capturing biometric data like heart rate, oxygen saturation, and stress levels through a simple video camera These systems use ambient light and facial recognition to extract vital data, offering contactless, scalable care monitoring to enhance remote care
The Big Picture
What sets RiverWoods apart isn’t just that they’re using AI, it’s that they’re thinking strategically about how to build toward the future. By layering automation, resident-centric innovation, and ethical use of emerging tools, they’re not just catching up to change, they’re helping lead it.
Final Thoughts
David’s session was a reminder that AI doesn’t have to be intimidating or abstract. It can, and should, be practical, accessible, and human-centered. The most powerful applications aren’t about replacing people, but about empowering them to work smarter, faster, and more confidently.
Whether you’re just starting to explore AI or already testing tools in your community, the key is approaching it with curiosity and care. Pilot small, learn fast, and keep your team in the loop. The future of aging services will belong to those willing to lean in and lead with intention.
Let’s not wait for the perfect solution; let’s start experimenting today.
Note: This blog post was empowered by AI by using a combination of Plaud.AI, MattGPT, & Matt’s Brain
