Clemson Downs and Tri-County Technical College Celebrate Healthcare Careers
January 5, 2015
Tri-County Technical College officials recognize success of dozens of alumni employed by Clemson Downs Retirement Community
CLEMSON, SC – Clemson Downs Retirement Community hosted officials from Pendleton-based Tri-County Technical College this month during an event that highlighted the friendship and career-development ties between the two institutions. Dr. John LeHeup, executive director for Clemson Downs, said the continuing care retirement community currently employs 33 Tri-County Technical College graduates, mainly in skilled nursing roles.
Clemson Downs also provides valuable learning opportunities to Tri-County Technical College students enrolled in certified nursing assistant and registered nursing programs. For years, many of the school’s students have performed their clinical exams at Clemson Downs’s skilled nursing center benefiting from the expertise of seasoned CNAs and RNs.
“Tri-County Technical College produces graduates who share Clemson Downs’s commitment to excellence—both in the expertise they display and the compassionate care they deliver to our residents,” said LeHeup. “In early 2015, as we expand our skilled nursing center to include private rooms and open the Upstate’s first ever standalone Memory Care Center, we anticipate our friendship with Tri-County to become even more mutually beneficial.”
Tri-County Technical College officials, including Dr. Ronnie Booth, the school’s president; Grayson Kelly, executive director of the Foundation; and Mary Johnston, director of alumni relations attended the reception for the school’s alumni now employed at the Clemson Downs campus to present them with special recognition and words of thanks for representing the school well in their professional work.
“Clemson Downs is so important for our school and our graduates. Students completing clinical experience here benefit from learning about the care delivered to residents with varying medical needs,” said Booth. “In addition, once our students graduate, Clemson Downs has proven to be an excellent, local employer dedicated to their professional development and success.”
Clemson Downs currently is one of the largest employers in the City of Clemson with more than 100 employees, and LeHeup expects to increase the size of his staff to 130 in the first half of 2015 to support expansions to skilled nursing that will include private room settings, and the opening of a “purpose-built” Memory Care Center with dedicated care for memory patients—sometimes referred to as dementia or Alzheimer’s care.
Clemson Downs offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care options as well as customized wellness programs, special events and a community of friendliness that is guided by a commitment to excellence in care. To learn more and to schedule a tour, please call: 864.654.1155.
About Clemson Downs
Clemson Downs—the only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Clemson, South Carolina— provides for its residents a continuum of care, including Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing services. Since its opening in 1980, “The Downs” (as the community is fondly known) has afforded its residents personalized, spacious apartments, complemented by a professional staff focused on each individual’s physical and mental well-being. The 38-acre, tree-lined campus provides a serene, beautiful neighborhood environment, ideal for building friendships and enjoying engaging programs, enriched by the intellectual, athletic and entertainment resources of nearby Clemson University. For more information, visit: clemsondowns.com or call 864.654.1155.
