Exhibit 31.1  CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15(d)-14(a)  I, Bruce J. Mackey Jr.,
certify that:  1.
  I have reviewed this
  Annual Report on Form 10-K of Five Star Quality Care, Inc.;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;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;4.
  The registrants other
  certifying officer(s) 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)) and internal control over financial
  reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and
  15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:a.
  Designed such
  disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and
  procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
  information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
  subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
  particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;b.
  Designed such
  internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control
  over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
  reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
  preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
  generally accepted accounting principles;c.
  Evaluated the
  effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and
  presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
  disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by
  this report based on such evaluation; andd.
  Disclosed in
  this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial
  reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter
  (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that
  has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
  registrants internal control over financial reporting; and5.
  The registrants other
  certifying officer(s) 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):All
  significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
  of internal   control over financial
  reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability
  to record, process, summarize and report financial information; andAny
  fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
  who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over
  financial reporting.  Date:
  March 2, 2009
  
  /s/ Bruce J. Mackey Jr.Bruce J. Mackey Jr.President and Chief
  Executive Officer