Exhibit 31.1  CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT
        TO EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)

I, George V. Hager, Jr., Chief Executive
      Officer of Genesis HealthCare Corporation, certify that:

|1. | I have reviewed this
        annual report on Form 10-K of Genesis HealthCare Corporation and subsidiaries;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
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|2. | Based on my knowledge,
        this annual 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 annual
        report;                    
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|3. | Based on my knowledge,
        the financial statements, and other financial information included in
        this annual 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 annual 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-15e and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial
          reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))
          for the registrant and have:
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|   | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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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 registrants board of directors
          (or persons performing the equivalent functions):                                                 
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|   | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|   | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

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|Date: December 14, 2005            | 
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|/s/   GEORGEV.
          HAGER,JR. | 
|                                   | 
|George V. Hager, Jr.               | 

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