Care and choice architecture: Relatives' support for adults with intellectual disabilities in supported decision-making processes.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) describes supported decision making as a fundamental human right. This study explores relatives' experiences, dilemmas, as well as key factors in supported decision-making processes with adults with intellectual disabilities living in municipal housing. The study draws on qualitative, in-depth interviews with relatives. Findings suggest that we can learn about supported decision making by using choice architecture and care theories, demonstrating that: (a) supported decision-making sometimes requires careful facilitation with a focus on the person's preferences/perspective; this careful facilitation can be understood in terms of choice architecture, (b) choice architecture in the context of intellectual disability requires an intentionality of care and a focus on the person's preferences/perspective, (c) relatives are concerned, not only with support in the moment, but also the effect of the decision in the long term, and (d) relatives' care is a significant factor in meeting choice architecture in systemic conditions.