Sickle cell disease: care throughout the life span

Families of individuals with sickle cell disease need to be willing to incorporate lifestyle changes to accommodate the needs of the sickle cell patient, while continuing to function as a stable, productive unit. Information in the form of tables is presented that will assist nurses in supporting and guiding patients and their families in adapting to sickle cell's demands. The tables organize the information into a format useful in conceptually relating the various components of the monograph and identify care providers beneficial in assisting patients to make the best use of health resources at various levels of development. It also provides glimpses into the lives of two sickle cell patients and their families.