Clemson Downs

    500 Downs Loop, Clemson, SC, 29631
    4.6 · 37 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    4.0

    Caring staff, clean grounds, recommended

    I toured this campus and was very impressed - the staff are truly exceptional: professional, caring, outgoing and always helpful, which gives me real peace of mind. The grounds are clean, well kept and bright, with varied housing (apartments, condos, duplexes and single-family options) plus memory and full-care units. Residents are friendly, there are lots of activities and outings, and meals are generally solid (though some rooms/amenities feel dated and a few units are small). It's on the pricier side, but overall I'd recommend it.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.57 · 37 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      5.0
    • Staff

      4.6
    • Meals

      3.6
    • Amenities

      3.9
    • Value

      5.0

    Pros

    • Attentive, professional and considerate staff
    • High-quality, excellent care (including memory care)
    • Engaging, varied activities and frequent outings
    • Clean, bright and well-kept campus
    • Multiple housing options (single-family homes, condos, apartments, duplexes)
    • Options for customizing/renovating apartments
    • Spacious apartments available (including large 2-bed units)
    • On-site health care and full-care transition option
    • Community dining room and communal social spaces
    • Positive, friendly resident community and strong community feel
    • Peace of mind reported by families
    • Scenic location (porches, woods, bird feeders, walking trail)
    • Good to very good food reported by many reviewers
    • Wide range of social events (cocktail parties, movie nights, crafts, religious services)
    • Transportation for outings (bus trips to concerts and events)
    • Cleanliness maintained throughout facility
    • Helpful, outgoing and accommodating staff
    • Highly recommended by multiple reviewers
    • Happy workplace / staff retention suggested by comments
    • New facility or recently updated areas mentioned

    Cons

    • Higher cost; described as expensive
    • Inconsistency in dining quality (some complaints about dinner/plain food)
    • Some facilities are older / not fully updated
    • Lack of certain amenities (no swimming pool mentioned)
    • Some rooms (especially wheelchair-accessible) are small
    • Perception that accessible rooms reduce usable space
    • Activities were suspended or reduced during COVID lockdowns
    • Uncertainty about fit until the resident actually moves in
    • A few reviewers did not evaluate meals or had limited meal service

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the reviews of Clemson Downs is strongly positive, with the most consistent praise directed at the staff, quality of care, and the active social environment. Multiple reviewers describe the staff as attentive, professional, considerate, outgoing and genuinely caring for residents, often using superlatives for the memory care unit. Families reported peace of mind and a sense that loved ones are well looked after. Comments such as “incredible to their patients,” “attentive staff,” and “professional and considerate” recur, suggesting staffing and caregiving are core strengths of the community.

    Facilities and housing options are another major positive theme. Reviewers note a clean, bright, and well-kept campus with varied living arrangements including independent duplexes, apartments, condos, and single-family homes. Some units are described as spacious — a number of reviewers specifically highlighted large two-bedroom apartments and the option to bring personal furniture. The grounds and setting also receive favorable mention (porches overlooking woods, bird feeders, and walking trails), contributing to the community’s pleasant, quiet neighborhood feel. At the same time, reviews indicate variability in building age: some parts appear new or recently updated, while other parts are described as older or ‘‘not current,’’ which affects the availability of certain amenities.

    Dining receives mixed but generally favorable feedback. Several reviewers praised the food as very good and noted a community dining room and multiple meal choices (one comment notes three choices). Social dining and events (cocktail parties, bus trips, communal meals) are mentioned as enhancing resident life. However, there are occasional complaints — notably that some dinner offerings were unsatisfactory or ‘‘plain but substantial,’’ and a few reviewers did not evaluate meals or only had limited meal coverage. This suggests dining quality can be inconsistent or subjective depending on individual expectations.

    Activities and social programming are highlighted as robust and varied. Residents enjoy crafts, artwork, religious services, movie nights, exercise and social events, and organized outings like bus trips to concerts. The community feel and frequent events are described as strong points that support engagement. A notable caveat is that several reviewers referenced COVID-related suspensions or lockdowns that temporarily curtailed activities; this reflects timing rather than ongoing programmatic weakness but is important context for some reviewers’ experiences.

    A few practical concerns and patterns emerge that prospective residents and families should weigh. Cost is frequently mentioned — reviewers describe Clemson Downs as expensive, though many add ‘‘worth it’’ for the level of care and environment. Some rooms, especially wheelchair-accessible units, are reported to be smaller or have reduced usable space compared with standard units, and the older sections of campus lack amenities such as a swimming pool. Several reviewers emphasized that true impressions and fit can remain uncertain until after a move-in, indicating that personalized tours and trial visits (if available) would be important. Finally, while staff responsiveness and the willingness to customize apartments were praised, a small number of reviewers offered neutral or limited feedback (e.g., upcoming moves without further comments), suggesting a range of pre-move perceptions.

    In summary, Clemson Downs presents as a well-regarded senior living community with standout caregiving, a friendly and engaged resident population, flexible housing choices, clean grounds and plentiful programming. Its main trade-offs are cost and some variability in room sizes and amenities depending on campus location or unit type. For families prioritizing high-quality staff, strong memory-care services, a full spectrum of living/health options, and an active social calendar, reviewers consistently recommend Clemson Downs. Prospective residents should, however, confirm specific unit layouts, amenity availability, and current dining/activity schedules as part of their decision-making process.

    Location

    Map showing location of Clemson Downs

    About Clemson Downs

    Clemson Downs is a privately owned continuing care retirement community for people 55 and older, and folks find that this place really focuses on healthy living through lots of services and amenities. The community sits in a way where residents can get independent living apartments, assisted living, skilled nursing care, memory care, and home health or personal care services without having to move off the property, so that's helpful as people need more support over time. There are Home Care services that let seniors stay at home or in their apartments a little longer, with help for things like companionship, personal care, nursing, therapy, memory care, and even hospice. For those in nursing care, certified nursing assistants are there all the time-24 hours a day. Healthcare staff offer medical supervision, custom rehab plans, and therapy, since on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy comes through Genesis Rehab Services. People dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia have Creekside Cottage Memory Support, where staff use personalized plans to focus on cognitive engagement and kindness. If you want to stay active, there's a Wellness Center, fitness room, walking paths, a resident lounge, and a library, plus wide doorways, breezeways, and covered hallways with assist rails so getting around isn't much trouble. Folks join in with structured activities-exercise classes, bridge, weekly movies, games, competitions, church programs, sing-a-longs, and bingo, along with music programs like piano recitals, choral programs, violin and viola concerts, and even hand bell choirs and recorder recitals. Activity coordinators run special calendars for each level of care, and a full-time activities director manages things for independent living. People sometimes gather for visiting barbershop quartets, nature slide shows, travelogues, and health education events. Seniors use shuttle service to get to local stores. Independent living apartments come as studios, one-bedrooms, or two-bedrooms, with features like private bathrooms, walk-in closets, kitchens, cable, Wi-Fi, and emergency call systems, plus there are communal laundry rooms with free washers and dryers. There's also interior storage space, spacious lobbies, and areas indoors and outside for socializing or relaxing. Clemson Downs stays owned and operated by CARC, a company registered with the South Carolina Secretary of State and the Federal Security Exchange Commission, and they do have a full-service Bistro, therapy, concierge in-home care, wellness services, and lots of staff around to help residents stay as independent as they can.

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