Riverdale Senior Services welcomes new executive director – and this one's here to stay

After more than a year-long search for a permanent leader, Riverdale Senior Services is ushering in a new era with a fresh face taking the helm. 

Tina Cardoza-Izquierdo has stepped up as the new executive director and brings with her a clear vision for its growth. One focused on bridging the intergenerational divide among seniors of all ages – from older adults just entering retirement to those nearing triple digits.

Though new to RSS, Cardoza-Izquierdo is no stranger to heading senior-focused organizations, but it’s not where she got her start.

The newcomer launched her career in health administration when she was  20 years old, working as an executive assistant in medical billing at New York Medical College.

She later transitioned to Health and Hospital Corporation, managing administrative offices for surgery, pediatrics and emergency departments. In the following years, she held other jobs, including the director of medical staff affairs and physician services at Nyack Hospital.

In 2016, she landed a municipal role as director of the Rockland County Office for the Aging. It was around that time her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“When my dad was sick, we weren’t provided with many resources on how to deal with it as far as caregivers or where we could turn,” she explained. “That really drove me to working with older adults. When I began at the [Office for the Aging], I found it was the best kept secret.”

Like other New York agencies supporting senior populations, Rockland County relies on both state and federal funding, along with donations, to provide an array of programming. This includes meal services, counseling and resources for caregiver support. 

Cardoza-Izquierdo's focus turned to expanding the organization’s community outreach efforts, estimating she tripled the number of individuals it served. 

“People are getting older and older,” she explained, citing U.S. Census Bureau projections that by 2030, adults 65 and older will outnumber children under 18 for the first time in the nation’s history. “We really need to prepare for that.”

She spent nine years at the Rockland County Office for the Aging before becoming the executive director of a home attendant agency. Most recently, Cardoza-Izquierdo led Atria Senior Living, also as an executive director.

Most of the roles she held were in the nonprofit sector, a category Atria did not fall under. 

There, she realized the for-profit realm was not aligned with her passion – increasing accessibility to human services for older adults. A few weeks into her tenure at RSS, she is confident she found a fit that “feels like home.”

“We believe there is a large group of local residents who don’t even know we exist,” Helen Moriks said, president of RSS’ board of directors. “Good marketing is what we need. Tina is aware of that, and she’s already beginning to try to spread the word.”

The executive director strives to not just grow accessibility, but inclusivity as well, with a goal to bridge the gap between older adults. Some of those served by Riverdale Senior Services include those from the Greatest Generation, now at least 97 years old; Baby Boomers, 60 to 78 and the Silent Generation in between – children of the Great Depression and World War II, known for their conformist and reserved nature during the political turmoil of their youth.

Cardoza-Izquierdo attributes growing technological literacy among younger seniors as a factor contributing to divides in older adult communities. Although an established annual event, she points to the upcoming tech expo as an example of efforts to bring them together.

On Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., RSS will host several presentations on navigating technology, smart devices and artificial intelligence. 

The new leader sees the program as more than an opportunity to help seniors adapt to the digital age, but also a chance for them to teach and learn from each other. 

RSS is also known as The Center for Ageless Living – a title central to her plans for its growth.

“70 is the new 60, 60 is the new 50, 50 is the new 40,” she noted. “I think you’re as old as you feel.”

Her appointment follows the departure of interim executive director Floyd Rumohr. He ran the center for nearly a year and a half and shares similar perspectives on aging.

When asked by The Press what age he considers older adulthood to begin,  Rumohr referenced services like the AARP – which advertises itself as the “nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to older Americans,” a group it classifies as 50 and up. However, according to federal standards, he added, individuals become eligible for Social Security benefits at 62 and qualify for Medicare at 65.

“I’m 62, I still do yoga like a 32 year old,” he said. “We’re seeing older and older adults, you know, 90 plus, who are still engaged in life and still sharp as a tack.”

He arrived at RSS envisioning his own plan –  one with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Originally meant to serve as an interim until March 2024, he turned to the board of directors to extend his six-month term. 

Reflecting on his time with the organization, he recalls learning  “how underrepresented” older adults were in budgetary priorities. Among the legacies he leaves is his success in growing funding outreach, including hiring a development manager to assist.

 Rumohr entered RSS with more than a decade of experience leading nonprofit organizations. But his exit marks a new chapter in his life – this one set in Portugal.