Institute for Engaged Aging | Clemson University

The proposal to establish an Institute for Engaged Aging was approved by the Clemson University Board of Trustees in October, 2006.  The seeds for the Institute were sown in 2001 by College of Health, Education and Human Development faculty who began developing the idea for a gerontology research center.  At the community living niche area meeting hosted by the Provost in 2003, the HEHD gerontology researchers joined other researchers from across campus to form a campus-wide team.  This team eventually grew to consortium status as the Gerontology Research Interdisciplinary Team (GRIT).  Although GRIT was composed of faculty from all five colleges, the College of HEHD provided the infrastructure support and continues to support the new Institute.

The Institute is a member of the South Carolina Aging Research Network (SCARN), which includes all the Health Sciences South Carolina (HSSC) members, and has several partners both internal and external to the university. The Institute has partnered with Greenville Hospital System (GHS) to establish a proposal for an Endowed Chair in Senior Driving, Mobility, and Physical Functioning. This Chair is part of the proposal submitted by CU, GHS, University of South Carolina and Palmetto Health to establish a Center for Economic Excellence called the South Carolina Center for Older Adult Independence. To facilitate the work of Institute faculty and students, as well as the new Endowed Chair, a home simulation lab has been established and soon a driving simulation lab will be added to the new GHS Center for Success in Aging. These new labs complement the home and driving simulations labs at CU and will support increased research in the areas of driving, mobility and physical functioning.