|Exhibit
    31.1   | CERTIFICATION
          PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
    OF 1934, AS AMENDED
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I, George V. Hager, Jr., principal executive officer of Genesis HealthCare Corporation, certify that:

|1. | I have reviewed this Form 10-Q of Genesis HealthCare Corporation;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|2. | Based
       on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of
       a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
    statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
       were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
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|3. | Based
       on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
       included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial
    condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of,
       and for, the periods presented in this report;                   
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|4. | The
       registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing
       and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange
    Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:                                                                                      
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|   | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|   | c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|   | d)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|5. | The
       registrants
       other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent
       evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants
    auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors
    (or persons performing the equivalent functions):       
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|   | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|Date:August 9, 2005 | /s/ George V. Hager, Jr.                         
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|                    |                                                  
|                    | George V. Hager, Jr.                             
|                    | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

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