A Senior Care Program provides a proactive comprehensive health care platform that addresses the older patient's special needs
in a marketable package. This specialized medical service allows you to increase the standard of care you provide your senior
patients. The program is based on two premises; first there are fundamental differences in the specific diseases, behavior
problems, and the nutritional needs of the older pet; secondly that prevention, early detection, and timely intervention of
medical problems can have a significant impact on the longevity and quality of life of an older pet. Recently the AAHA came
out with Senior Care guidelines. A copy can be found on their website;
http://aahanet.org/
Senior Care changes the way veterinarians traditionally approach the senior pet. Senior Care is a more inclusive health care
program starting at seven years of age and advocating twice-yearly evaluations. However, the major benefit of Senior Care
is the Industry support form companies like IDEXX, IAMS and Fort Dodge. IDEXX 's continued commitment to the program provides
your practice with age related in house and referral laboratory diagnostics plus all the marketing and implementation tools
necessary to make Senior Care successful in your practice. Tools for client education, health data gathering and health reporting
tools, patient diagnostic and management charts plus program implementation tips are currently available.
Why build a Senior Care program in your practice? By advocating more comprehensive histories, performing more complete physical
examinations, and recommending more diagnostic testing of older pets, you are providing higher quality veterinary medicine
for your senior patients. A great deal of professional satisfaction for you and your staff comes from helping those long established
senior patients live longer healthier lives. Plus managing most age related disease in the early phases is far more rewarding
than the "end stage". Senior Care can be a major profit center for your practice. With over 39% of the pet population considered
seniors, tremendous financial opportunities exist.
While the veterinary profession has been very successful at providing comprehensive health care programs for the puppies and
kittens, there are almost 2 1/4 times as many senior pets as puppies and kittens and dogs are puppies for one year but are
seniors for four to ten years. By taking a more detailed history on the senior pet, performing a more complete physical examinations,
and submitting more diagnostic tests, not only are you increasing the standard of care you provide your senior patients, but
approximately 40% of those patients will now require additional diagnostic testing, medication or therapy. Ultimately a properly
implemented Senior Care program can represent 35% or more of your gross annual income.
A Senior Care program implies both a preventative and comprehensive therapeutic approaches to management of acute and chronic
conditions in aging dogs and cats. The program emphasizes client education, prevention, early detection, and timely medical
intervention.
Four Essential Components Of Any Senior Care Program Should Include;
1. Preventative Health programs
2. A comprehensive patient health assessment (discovery)
3. A formal review period where all the findings are communicated to the owner and
4. A formulating specific short & long term action plans A scheduled follow-up
