Nursing Interventions and Reporting Procedures · Multidisciplinary team approach - health care providers, social services, and criminal justice system · Individualized intervention with some generalizations - If life of older person is in jeopardy, Adult Protective Services (APS) must be notified. · Patient needs to be moved to a safe place if in a hostile environment      (i.e., hospital, relative, or nursing facility). · APS has the legal responsibility for investigation/intervention when abuse is suspected outside an institution. · Mandatory reporting laws for the state of Texas · If older person is not in immediate danger, more comprehensive assessment can take place and support services should be implemented to alleviate some of the risk factors. · Some support services can be : providing caregiver support such as respite care, homemaker services, Meals-On-Wheels; psychiatric/alcohol abuse counseling referral; possible institutionalization of the abused older person; and caregiver support groups.                       Mandatory Reporting Laws for Texas · The law requires anyone who suspects abuse, exploitation or neglect of an older or disabled person in an institution to report to the Texas Department of Human Services or law enforcement. In fact, failure to report these crimes is itself a Class A Misdemeanor. · The standard for reporting is usually a "reasonable belief" that a vulnerable adult has been, or is likely to be, abused, neglected, or exploited. That means the person reporting the abuse does not have to be certain that someone is being mistreated or exploited, but only need a legitimate basis for suspecting this to be the case. · In the past, elderly persons were sometimes tied to a chair or bed to prevent them from moving freely, or given sedative drugs to make them easier to "control". Today, unless there is a doctor’s order or emergency safety reason for restraining a person with ties or with drugs, such actions are a violation of that person’s rights. Convenience, irritation, and anger are not legal excuses for restraining.      ( http://www.oag.state.tx.us).