Melba Ramirez, ABAAHP

Melba Ramirez is a Certified Occupational Therapist who graduated from the National University of Colombia with a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 1988. Over the course of her career, Melba has widened her experience working in a variety of settings and with diverse age populations including inpatient rehab, outpatient services, home health services, and skilled nursing facilities.

As an Occupational Therapist, her current primary field of care is the Geriatric population focusing on providing individualized interventions to clients, families, and caregivers to promote independence and safety in the areas of Activities of Daily Living known as ADL’s and providing clients with education regarding healthy lifestyles to optimize the aging process and to maximize function.

To advance her knowledge and enhance her practice Melba pursued several certifications including CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist), Lymphedema Therapist Certification, NDT (Neurodevelopmental Techniques) Certification, and through A4M obtained a Brain Optimization and Restoration Certification as well as a Health Care Practitioner Diplomate among others. This training has helped her to provide holistic interventions with a positive impact on her client’s function at the cognitive and physical levels.

Melba enjoys educating clients, families, and communities about strategies that can help them to maintain their independence, mobility, and function by increasing their awareness and understanding of how nutrition and levels of physical activity can influence either positively or negatively their cognitive and physical performance as they age.

As her main goal is to help people to maintain their independence and safety, she founded her company Design for Independence LLC focusing on providing home modifications and adaptations to allow them to age in place for as long as they can. This model allows her to bring and integrate her training and knowledge right there, at the heart of her client’s and families’ homes!

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, dancing, traveling, praying, and worshiping God. She is looking forward to continuing to serve her family, clients, and her community.

• Occupational Medicine and Therapy