Offering Forced Choices

Today’s insight discusses offering forced choices. This is a way to show respect to your mother by setting her up to succeed.

Transcription of Video:

Hi I am Deb Nygaard with Arthur’s Residential Care with today’s Insight From Arthur’s.

Today I want to talk about forced choices. Now it doesn’t sound like a nice thing, but actually this is a way for you to really honor your loved one who has dementia and to show them respect.

So let’s take a scenario where you take your mother who has dementia out to Perkins. She’s looking at the menu and she can’t decide, and it’s going on and on and on. You’ve been there for a half an hour and she still can’t decide. What you could do is offer her a forced choice. What that means it that you give her two items to choose from both of which are proven winners.

You could tell her, “Mom the last time we were here you had the tuna melt, but I also know you love the turkey club deluxe. Which sounds appealing to you today?” Now all your mother has to do is choose between two items and both of them are going to succeed. You know she likes both of them and so she can say, “I think I feel like the tuna today.” Now you have helped her to succeed and she is going to feel warm and appreciative toward you. Your relationship will be more positive, because you have presented her with a situation in which she can succeed and not be embarrassed.

I’m Deb Nygaard with Arthur’s Residential Care.

Contact Deb Nygaard
Director of Development
Arthur’s Residential Care:  651-429-4798