During recent years, specialized wards have been established in geriatric hospital departments as a consequence of the growing need of special care for acutely ill older patients, who are also cognitively impaired. However, there are neither established standards nor any commonly agreed concept of care. A written survey among 12 specialized wards in Germany revealed some characteristics of these wards: extended geriatric assessment, special education of staff including validation and gerontopsychiatric issues, and particular equipment/architecture, such as hidden doors and group rooms, and in some cases loop tracks for walking, therapeutic facilities, and 'living rooms' on the wards. There is a wide variability with respect to the designation of these wards, the number of beds, length of stay, and admission criteria. It appears from this survey that there should be an exchange of empirical experience made on these wards, and there is a need of collaborative research on its usefulness.