Our Team of Skilled OT Practitioners
Our team of Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Nicole Palminteri and Morgan Warren, met while working at a neuro-rehabilitation facility in the state of Maine in 2021. While both practitioners are passionate about neuro-rehabilitation, they saw many clients not getting the help they needed in the traditional healthcare system. They also personally faced challenges within the healthcare system while recently having to care for family members.
While working and collaborating together on a daily basis, Morgan and Nicole developed a close professional and personal bond and decided they wanted to continue to work together in a different capacity. This encouraged Nicole and Morgan to start Ascend Care. Their goal is to provide a client-centered model of care to empower individuals to engage in all areas of daily living with confidence, and develop strategies to continue independence at home, while reducing risk of falls and re-hospitalizations.
Meet Nicole
OTD, OTR/L, CFPS
Nicole has been working as an Occupational Therapist for over a decade, after attaining her master’s and graduating with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in 2012. She began her career working with adolescents in crisis, supporting them in getting back to their daily lives. The skills she gained in her first job, such as patience, empathy, and advocacy, catapulted her to flourish as a clinician and a professional. From there she expanded her expertise within the realms of adult rehabilitation, neuro-rehabilitation, and skilled home health care. Over the course of her career, Nicole sought the opportunity to expand her education and knowledge and accomplished her doctorate degree while working full-time in 2021. In 2023, she obtained her certification as a Fall Prevention Specialist. This attainment only emboldened Nicole to reach higher and strive to provide her clients with the care they deserve outside of the confines of the “typical” healthcare system.
Meet Morgan
Morgan has been working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in the field of OT for four years now. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor’s of Health Sciences in 2018, while working as a Personal Support Specialist in home care. Morgan continued her education at Kennebec Valley Community College and earned an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Therapy Assisting. Morgan has worked in outpatient neuro-rehabilitation and adult rehabilitation throughout various skilled nursing facilities in the state of Maine. She recently obtained her certification as a Fall Prevention Specialist in 2023.
Morgan’s goal is to empower adults to live at home with confidence while reducing risk of falls and injury that can lead to hospitalization. Morgan is an advocate for getting people back to doing the things they love to do, including outdoor adventure activities and community engagement. When she is not working as a COTA, Morgan enjoys long walks with her dog, and hiking/traveling with her husband.