GRIT - HEHD - Clemson

GRIT Mission

To enhance the ability of South Carolina senior adults to experience optimal quality of life.

GRIT Goals

Process Goals

  • Collaborate with researchers from multiple disciplines both internal and external to the university.
  • Partner with community organizations in the research process.
  • Engage and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the research process.

Outcome Goals

  • Discovery, development and dissemination of best practices for optimal aging.
  • Provision of opportunities for education and engagement of local practitioners and seniors.

Symposium 2006

From Baby Boom to Silver Boom: Are We Ready?

Click here for pictures & presentations

GRIT Overview

The Gerontology Research Interdisciplinary Team (GRIT) is a university-wide research consortium with 20 members representing all five colleges and Clemson Extension. Infrastructure support is provided by the College of Health, Education, and Human Development. GRIT represents an organizational structure for creating interdisciplinary, collaborative, and ecological models for addressing the needs of older adults. Its mission is to discover, develop, and disseminate best practices for successful aging in rural communities. Because of its Community Based Participatory Research approach, external community and agency partners are an integral part of GRIT’s mission. This comprehensive and holistic approach provides the framework for a national model linking the Land Grant University, state agencies, local communities, and public and private funders in ways that enable older adults to maintain optimal functionality.


Collaborations with External Partners

  • AARP
  • Access to Health Care Task Force
  • Aging and Disability Information Centers (ADICs).
  • Clemson Downs
  • Coalition for Successful Aging
  • Greenville Hospital System
  • Healthy Aging Research Consortium (HARC)
  • Interim Home Care and Hospice, Greenville Hospital System, Spartanburg Regional Hospital
  • Oconee Memorial Hospital
  • Palliative Care Committee at Anderson Area Medical Center, St. Francis Health System, South
  • Carolina Nurses Association, Greenville Hospital System
  • Partners for a Healthy Community, AnMed
  • SC Aging In Place Council
  • SC Center for Gerontology
  • SC DHEC
  • Senior Solutions (upstate Senior Centers)
  • South Carolina Advisory Council for the Alzheimer’s Resource Coordination Center
  • South Carolina Arthritis Advisory Council

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College of Health, Education, and Human Development



Copyright@2005, GRIT Clemson University
Last Update on June 14, 2006.
Site designed and maintained by Yawei Wang, GRIT Assistant
Comments about this website and its content, please send to Dr. Dye and Dr. McGuire (Team Leaders).

Special thanks to Ken Cothran for graphics on this page