Observation units (OUs) are an ideal location for the care coordination and proper disposition of elderly patients. The availability and intensity of resources coupled with a focus on expedited disposition allows an emergency department (ED) OU to serve as the optimal location for the geriatric patient who may require placement or other geriatric-specific interventions. As many elderly patients who require placement in sub-acute or long-term care settings fail to meet established admission criteria due to chronicity of symptoms, it becomes clear that the utility of an ED OU is vital to assist with the geriatric population. By consolidating and focusing the necessary resources in one centralized location, and by placing an emphasis on value to hospital systems and patients rather than arbitrary time-points, ED OUs stand to optimize inpatient bed utilization while at the same time allow for time sensitive dispositions for these vulnerable patients.