Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.44

                                 VISTACARE, INC.

                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                           (EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2004)

<PAGE>
                                                                               .
                                                                               .
                                                                               .

                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    PAGE NO.
<S>                                                                  <C>
1. PURPOSE.............................................................1

2. DEFINITIONS.........................................................1

   2.1  Account........................................................1

   2.2  Accounting Date................................................1

   2.3  Annual Installment Method......................................1

   2.4  Beneficiary....................................................1

   2.5  Board..........................................................2

   2.6  Business Day...................................................2

   2.7  Cause..........................................................2

   2.8  Change in Control..............................................2

   2.9  Committee......................................................2

   2.10 Common Stock...................................................3

   2.11 Common Stock Fund..............................................3

   2.12 Company........................................................3

   2.13 Company Credit.................................................3

   2.14 Compensation...................................................3

   2.15 Crediting Date.................................................3

   2.16 Deferral Account(s)............................................3

   2.17 Deferral Election..............................................3

   2.18 Deferred Compensation..........................................3

   2.19 Disability.....................................................4

   2.20 Distribution Election..........................................4

   2.21 Effective Date.................................................4
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                     <C>
   2.22    Eligible Officer...............................................4

   2.23    Employee.......................................................4

   2.24    Fair Market Value..............................................4

   2.25    In-Service Scheduled Account(s)................................4

   2.26    Investment Fund(s).............................................4

   2.27    Mandated Deferral..............................................4

   2.28    Participant....................................................5

   2.29    Plan...........................................................5

   2.30    Plan Year......................................................5

   2.31    Retirement.....................................................5

   2.32    Retirement Account.............................................5

   2.33    Service Year...................................................5

   2.34    Stock Unit(s)..................................................5

   2.35    Termination....................................................5

3. ADMINISTRATION.........................................................5

4. ELIGIBILITY............................................................6

5. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS...................................................6

6. DEFERRAL ELECTIONS.....................................................7

   6.1 In General.........................................................7

   6.2 Amount of Deferrals................................................7

   6.3 Investment Alternatives For Existing Balances......................7

7. COMPANY CREDITS........................................................7

   7.1 Vesting............................................................8

   7.2 Forfeiture.........................................................8

8. DISTRIBUTION...........................................................8
</TABLE>

                                       ii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                     <C>
   8.1 Retirement Account.................................................8

   8.2 In-Service Scheduled Account.......................................8

   8.3 Death..............................................................8

   8.4 Form of Distribution...............................................9

9.  FINANCIAL HARDSHIP....................................................9

10. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION..............................................10

11. UNSECURED GENERAL CREDITOR STATUS OF EMPLOYEE........................10

12. SHARES; ADJUSTMENTS IN EVENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION............10

13. INALIENABILITY OF BENEFITS...........................................10

14. CLAIMS PROCEDURE.....................................................10

15. GOVERNING LAW........................................................12

16. AMENDMENTS...........................................................12
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>

                                 VISTACARE, INC.
                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

1.    PURPOSE

      The purpose of this VistaCare, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the
"Plan") is to provide eligible key employees of the Company with an opportunity
to defer compensation to be earned by them from the Company as a means of saving
for retirement or other future purposes and to provide such employees with
competitive retirement and capital accumulation benefits. In addition, the Plan
is intended to provide eligible key employees additional incentive to remain
employed by the Company and to attract certain executive-level employees.

2.    DEFINITIONS

      The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan:

        2.1   ACCOUNT.

      "Account" means a bookkeeping account established and maintained by the
Company for each Participant reflecting Deferred Compensation and earnings and
losses thereon in accordance with Section 5.

        2.2   ACCOUNTING DATE.

      "Accounting Date" means each Business Day on which a calculation
concerning a Participant's Deferral Account is performed, or as otherwise
defined by the Committee.

        2.3   ANNUAL INSTALLMENT METHOD.

      "Annual Installment Method" refers to an annual installment payment over
the number of years selected by the Participant in accordance with his or her
Distribution Election, calculated as follows: With respect to the initial annual
installment payment, the Deferral Account of the Participant shall be valued as
of the close of business on the last business day of the quarter of the Plan
Year immediately preceding the installment payment date described in Section
8.4(b). With respect to all subsequent payments, the Deferral Account shall be
valued as of the last day of the first quarter of the Plan Year immediately
preceding each subsequent installment payment date. The annual installment shall
be calculated by multiplying the Deferral Account by a fraction, the numerator
of which is one and the denominator of which is the remaining number of annual
payments due the Participant. By way of example, if the Participant elects a
5-year Annual Installment Method, the first payment shall be 1/5 of the Deferral
Account, calculated as described in this definition. The following year, the
payment shall be 1/4 of the Deferral Account, calculated as described in this
definition. Each annual installment shall be paid on or as soon as practicable
after the last business day of the first quarter of the applicable Plan Year.

        2.4   BENEFICIARY.

      "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by the Participant in
accordance with Section 10, or if no person or persons are so designated, the
estate of a deceased Participant.

<PAGE>

        2.5   BOARD.

      "Board" means the Board of Directors of VistaCare, Inc.

        2.6   BUSINESS DAY.

      "Business Day" means a day on which the Nasdaq National Market is open for
trading activity.

        2.7   CAUSE.

      "Cause" means the participation of a Participant in a criminal activity,
as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, which results in the
termination of employment of the Participant.

        2.8   CHANGE IN CONTROL.

      "Change in Control" means (i) the acquisition by a person, party or a
group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of outstanding capital stock of the Company
representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of all voting securities
of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
excluding acquisitions by the Company or by a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company; (ii) a change of a
majority of the Board, without the approval or consent of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the members of the Board before such change; (iii) the acquisition of
the Company by means of a reorganization, merger, consolidation,
recapitalization or asset sale, unless the owners of the capital stock of the
Company immediately before such transaction continue to own, in substantially
the same proportions as before such transaction, capital stock of the acquiring
or succeeding entity representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of
all voting securities of such acquiring or succeeding entity entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors; or (iv) the merger or consolidation of
the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation
which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity) as least 50% of the total voting power represented by the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan
of complete liquidation (as that term is used in the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets (as that phrase is used in the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware).

        2.9   COMMITTEE.

      "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or its
delegate.

                                       2
<PAGE>

        2.10  COMMON STOCK.

      "Common Stock" means the Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, of
VistaCare, Inc.

        2.11  COMMON STOCK FUND.

      "Common Stock Fund" means that investment option, approved by the
Committee, in which a Participant's Deferral Accounts may be deemed to be
invested and may earn income (or incur losses) based on a hypothetical
investment in Common Stock.

        2.12  COMPANY.

      "Company" means VistaCare, Inc., its divisions, subsidiaries and/or
affiliates.

        2.13  COMPANY CREDIT.

      "Company Credit" means an amount, if any, credited by the Company to a
Participant's Retirement Account in the sole discretion of the Committee
pursuant to Section 7.

        2.14  COMPENSATION.

      "Compensation" means all salary, payments under the Company's annual bonus
plan or any other employee compensation determined by the Committee to be
properly deferrable under the Plan.

        2.15  CREDITING DATE.

      "Crediting Date" means each date on which Deferred Compensation is
credited to Deferral Accounts in accordance with rules prescribed by the
Committee.

        2.16  DEFERRAL ACCOUNT(s).

      "Deferral Account(s)" means the Retirement Account and/or the
In-Service Scheduled Accounts.

        2.17  DEFERRAL ELECTION.

      "Deferral Election" means a Participant's timely delivery of a written
notice of election to the Committee or its designee electing to defer payment of
a specified percentage of his or her Compensation in accordance with rules
prescribed by the Committee either until Retirement, death or such other time as
permitted by the Committee.

        2.18  DEFERRED COMPENSATION.

      "Deferred Compensation" means the Compensation elected by the Participant
to be deferred pursuant to the Plan.

                                       3
<PAGE>

        2.19  DISABILITY.

      "Disability" means a physical or mental condition of a Participant
entitling the Participant to disability benefits under the Company's long-term
disability plan.

        2.20   DISTRIBUTION ELECTION.

      "Distribution Election" means a Participant's timely delivery of a written
notice of election to the Committee electing a single lump sum payment or five
annual installment payments of his or her Retirement Account. A Distribution
Election shall be irrevocable and can only be modified by the Committee, in its
sole discretion upon (i) a demonstration of financial hardship in accordance
with Section 9, (ii) upon Disability, in accordance with Section 8.6, or (iii)
upon termination for Cause in accordance with Section 8.1.

        2.21  EFFECTIVE DATE.

      "Effective Date" means January 1, 2004.

        2.22  ELIGIBLE OFFICER.

      "Eligible Officer" means an Employee who is eligible to participate in the
Plan in accordance with Section 4.

        2.23  EMPLOYEE.

      "Employee" means an individual classified by the Committee as a full-time,
regular salaried employee of the Company.

        2.24  FAIR MARKET VALUE.

      "Fair Market Value" means, as of any specified date, the closing sales
price of a share of Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
that date (or, if there are no sales on that date, the last preceding date on
which there was a sale), or, in the event the Common Stock is listed on a stock
exchange, the closing sales price of a share of Common Stock, as reported on
such exchange on that date (or, if there are no sales on that date, the last
preceding date on which there was a sale). In the absence of any listing of the
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market or on any established stock exchange,
Fair Market Value means the fair market value of the Common Stock on any
specified date as determined in good faith by the Committee.

        2.25  IN-SERVICE SCHEDULED ACCOUNT(s).

      "In-Service Scheduled Account" means the Account(s) to which a Participant
elects to credit Deferred Compensation, and from which, pursuant to Section 8.2,
distributions are made.

        2.26  INVESTMENT FUND(s).

      "Investment Fund(s)" means the investment fund or funds selected in the
sole discretion of the Committee which serve as the basis for determining the
hypothetical investments of the Deferral Accounts, in accordance with the
Participant's investment elections, as described in Section 5.

        2.27  MANDATED DEFERRAL.

                                       4
<PAGE>

      "Mandated Deferral" means a deferral of Compensation that is mandated by
the Committee, in its sole discretion, to assure the federal income tax
deductibility of Compensation.

        2.28  PARTICIPANT.

      "Participant" means an Employee who is eligible to participate in the Plan
in accordance with Section 4, and who has made an Election.

        2.29  PLAN.

      "Plan" means this VistaCare, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended
from time to time.

        2.30  PLAN YEAR.

      "Plan Year" means the annual period commencing January 1 and ending the
following December 31.

        2.31  RETIREMENT.

      "Retirement" means a Participant's Termination other than a Termination
for Cause.

        2.32  RETIREMENT ACCOUNT.

      "Retirement Account" means the Account (i) to which a Participant elects
to credit Deferred Compensation, (ii) to which Company Credits are made, and
(iii) from which distributions are made pursuant to Section 8.1 upon Retirement.

        2.33  SERVICE YEAR.

      "Service Year" means, as designated by the Committee, such year or portion
thereof during which the services have been rendered by a Participant for which
Compensation is payable.

        2.34  STOCK UNIT(s).

      "Stock Unit(s)" means the share equivalents credited to the Common Stock
Fund of a Participant's Deferral Account in accordance with the Participant's
investment election, as described in Section 5.

        2.35  TERMINATION.

      "Termination" means a Participant's voluntary or involuntary termination
of employment with the Company at any time. In the event of a Participant's
Disability, a Termination will be deemed to have occurred as of the date that
the Participant has been determined to be eligible for long-term disability
benefits under the Company's long-term disability plan.

3.    ADMINISTRATION

      Full power and authority to construe, interpret and administer the Plan
shall be vested in the Committee. This power and authority includes, but is not
limited to, in its sole discretion, selecting

                                       5
<PAGE>

which Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan, selecting Compensation
eligible for deferral, selecting Investment Funds, mandating deferrals if
necessary to assure the federal income tax deductibility of Compensation by the
Company; establishing the level of Company Credits (if any) to the Plan,
establishing deferral terms and conditions, receiving and approving beneficiary
designation forms, and adopting modifications, amendments and procedures as may
be deemed necessary, appropriate or convenient by the Committee. Decisions of
the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties. The
Committee, in its sole discretion, may delegate day-to-day administration of the
Plan to an employee or employees of the Company or to a third-party
administrator. The Committee may also rely on outside counsel, independent
accountants or other consultants or advisors for advice and assistance in
fulfilling its administrative duties under the Plan. The Committee shall
administer the Plan and, in connection therewith, shall have full power and sole
discretion to construe and interpret the Plan; to establish rules and
regulations; to delegate responsibilities to others to assist it in
administering the Plan or performing any responsibilities hereunder; and to
perform all other acts it believes reasonable and proper in connection with the
administration of the Plan.

4.    ELIGIBILITY

      Employees at the vice-president level and above, and Employees who are
members of the Senior Management Team or Strategic Leadership Team, shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan commencing on the later of the Effective
Date or the first day of the month following the date they are employed by the
Company in such capacity. The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole
discretion, to impose additional restrictions on the eligibility of Employees,
and to designate other Employees who are eligible to participate in the Plan.

5.    PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS

      Upon a Participant's initial Deferral Election, a Retirement Account and
In-Service Scheduled Account(s) shall be established on behalf of the
Participant, as designated by the Participant, to which there shall be credited
any Deferred Compensation as of each Crediting Date, in accordance with the
Participant's annual Deferral Election. In addition, Company Credits and
Mandated Deferrals, if any, made pursuant to Section 7 shall be allocated to a
Participant's Retirement Account in accordance with rules prescribed by the
Committee. Each such Deferral Account shall be credited (or debited) on each
Accounting Date with income (or loss) based upon a hypothetical investment in
any one or more of the Investment Funds available under the Plan, as prescribed
by the Committee for the particular Compensation credited, which may include a
Common Stock Fund.

      If all or any portion of a Participant's Deferral Account(s) is measured
by a hypothetical investment in the Common Stock Fund, that portion of the
Participant's Deferral Account(s) shall be credited on the Crediting Date with
Stock Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock (including fractions
of a share) that could have been purchased with the amount of such Deferred
Compensation at the Fair Market Value on the Crediting Date. As of any date for
the payment of cash dividends on the Common Stock, the portion of the
Participant's Deferral Account(s) invested in the Common Stock Fund as of the
dividend record date shall be credited with additional Stock Units calculated by
dividing (i) the product of (a) the dollar value of the dividend declared in
respect of a share of Common Stock multiplied by (b) the number of Stock Units
credited to the

                                       6
<PAGE>

Participant's Deferral Account(s) as of the dividend record date by (ii) the
Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the dividend payment date.

6.    DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

        6.1   IN GENERAL.

      An Eligible Officer, and any other Employee selected by the Committee to
participate in the Plan, may elect to do so by delivering to the Committee or
its designee a Deferral Election on a form prescribed by the Committee,
designating the Deferral Account to which the Deferred Compensation is to be
credited, electing the timing and setting forth the Investment Funds in which
such Deferred Compensation shall be hypothetically invested in accordance with
Section 5. A Participant's initial Deferral Election must be filed at such time
as designated by the Committee. A Participant may submit a new Deferral Election
for any subsequent year in order to change the election previously made. Such
subsequent Deferral Election must be filed at such time as designated by the
Committee, but in no event later than 15 days preceding the first day of the
Plan Year to which such subsequent Deferral Election relates. If a specific
Deferral Election has not been made with respect to any Plan Year, the Deferral
Election (if any) effective with respect to the immediately preceding Plan Year
shall remain in effect.

      Newly employed Employees who are Eligible Officers, or current Employees
who become Eligible Officers, may elect to participate for the current Plan Year
by filing a Deferral election within the first 30 days after commencing
employment or becoming an Eligible Officer, as appropriate. Such election shall
be effective on the first day of the month following the end of such 30-day
period. Deferral Elections for subsequent Plan Years shall be made in accordance
with the preceding paragraph.

        6.2   AMOUNT OF DEFERRALS.

      For each Plan Year, a Participant may elect to defer up to 25% of his or
her salary and 50% of his or her annual bonus, if any. The annual minimum
deferral amount into each Deferral Account is $2,500. If a Deferral Election is
made for less than the stated minimum amounts, or if no Deferral Election is
made, the amount deferred shall be zero.

        6.3   INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR EXISTING BALANCES.

      A Participant may elect to reallocate existing Deferral Account Balances
among Investment Funds in accordance with procedures established by the
Committee which procedures shall determine, among other things, the frequency of
such reallocation election.

7.    COMPANY CREDITS

      In the sole discretion of the Committee, in a given Plan Year the Company
may credit a specified percentage of a Participant's Compensation to the
Participant's Retirement Account as a Company Credit. The Committee may cause
the Company to credit such Company Credit for all or any portion of the
Participants in such Plan Year. Such Company Credit, if any, shall be credited
to a Participant's Retirement Account and shall be subject to the limitations
determined appropriate by the Committee, including the limitations described
below in this Section 7.

                                       7
<PAGE>

        7.1   VESTING.

      A Participant's Deferred Compensation shall be immediately one-hundred
percent (100%) nonforfeitable upon being credited to such Participant's
Retirement or In-Service Scheduled Account.

      Subject to Section 7.2, any Company Credits to a Participant's Retirement
Account for a Plan Year shall vest and become nonforfeitable based upon a
vesting schedule determined in the sole discretion of the Committee prior to the
allocation of any Company Credits to a Participant's Deferral Account.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Company Credits shall vest upon a Change in
Control.

        7.2   FORFEITURE.

      Upon a Participant's Retirement or Termination for Cause, the Company
reserves the right to withhold payment of a portion of a Participant's
Retirement Account attributable to Company Credits in the event the Committee
determines that the Participant has violated the Company's standard
noncompetition and nondisclosure agreement or any other employment agreement
executed by the Participant, or otherwise acts against the interests of the
Company, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

8.    DISTRIBUTION

        8.1   RETIREMENT ACCOUNT.

      In the event of a Participant's Retirement, the vested portion of the
Participant's Retirement Account shall be distributed at the time and in the
manner elected by the Participant in his or her Distribution Election, pursuant
to Section 8.4(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, elect to have the total amount credited to the Participant's
Retirement Account paid in a single lump sum upon the Participant's Retirement,
upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the failure of the Participant
to provide an effective Distribution Election; (ii) the aggregate vested amount
of the Participant's Deferral Accounts totaling less than $10,000, or (iii) a
Termination for Cause.

        8.2   IN-SERVICE SCHEDULED ACCOUNT.

      Deferred Compensation credited to a Participant's In-Service Scheduled
Account shall be distributed in a single lump sum at the time elected by the
Participant in his or her Deferral Election.

        8.3   DEATH.

      In the event of the Participant's death (a) while in the employment of the
Company or (b) after the Participant's Termination or Retirement but prior to
the payment of the total amount credited to such Participant's Deferral
Accounts, the Company shall pay to the Participant's Beneficiary in a single
lump sum:

            (1)   the remaining amounts, if any, in a Participant's
                  In-Service Scheduled Account; and

                                       8
<PAGE>

            (2)   the amounts in the Participant's Retirement Account.

      In the event of the Participant's death following Retirement, the Company
shall pay the amount credited to the Participant's Retirement Account to the
Participant's Beneficiary in the form elected by the Participant pursuant to his
or her Distribution Election in accordance with Section 8.4. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Beneficiary may, subject to the approval of the Committee in its
sole discretion, revoke a Distribution Election requiring an installment
payment, and elect to receive a distribution of the remaining Retirement Account
in the form of a single lump sum.

        8.4   FORM OF DISTRIBUTION.

      (a)   Distribution of a Participant's Deferral Accounts shall be made in
cash.

      (b)   A Participant's Distribution Election shall provide for the payment
of vested amounts credited to the Participant's Retirement Account upon
Retirement or Disability from the optional forms below, if such written election
is delivered to the Plan Administrator or its delegee at least twelve (12)
months prior to Retirement or Disability. If no such Distribution Election is
timely filed, then such distribution shall be made in a single lump sum. The
optional forms of distribution are:

            (i)   single lump sum:

            (ii)  annual payments made in accordance with the Annual Installment
                  Method over five (5) years following Retirement or
                  determination of Disability;

Lump sum payments shall be made, and installment payments shall commence, no
later than sixty (60) days following Retirement, Termination for Cause, or
determination of Disability, as applicable.

      (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant whose employment is
terminated upon Disability, may, subject to the approval of the Committee in its
sole discretion, (i) revoke a Distribution Election for a 5 year annual
installment payout, and elect a single lump sum payment; and/or (ii) defer the
commencement of benefits under the Plan until attainment of age 60.

9.    FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

      Upon the written request of a Participant or a Participant's legal
representative and a finding that continued deferral will result in an
unforeseeable financial emergency to the Participant, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may authorize (a) the payment of all or a part of a Participant's
Deferral Accounts representing Deferred Compensation and earnings thereon in a
single lump sum prior to his or her ceasing to be a Participant, or (b) a
Participant to cease contributing Deferred Compensation to the Plan during a
Plan Year. It is intended that the Committee's determinations as to whether the
Participant has suffered an "unforeseeable financial emergency" shall be made
consistent with the requirements under Section 457(d) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended and the regulations thereto defining "unforeseeable
injury". The Committee may adopt procedures for determining when a hardship
situation exists, including the use of independent advisors to make such
determinations.

                                       9
<PAGE>

      Any Participant receiving a hardship distribution may have no further
amounts deferred under this Plan for a period of one year from the date of such
distribution. The Participant shall not repay to the Company amounts distributed
pursuant to this Section 9.

10.   BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

      A Participant may designate one or more persons (including a trust) to
whom or to which payments are to be made if the Participant dies before
receiving distribution of all amounts due under the Plan. A Participant may, at
any time, elect to change the designation of a Beneficiary. A designation of
Beneficiary will be effective only after the signed designation of Beneficiary
is filed with the Committee or its designee while the Participant is alive and
will cancel all designations of Beneficiary signed and filed earlier. If the
Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above or if all of a
Participant's Beneficiaries predecease him or her and he or she fails to
designate a new Beneficiary, the remaining unpaid amounts shall be paid in one
lump sum to the estate of such Participant. If all Beneficiaries of the
Participant die after the Participant but before complete payment of all amounts
due hereunder, the remaining unpaid amounts shall be paid in one lump sum to the
estate of the last to die of such Beneficiaries.

11.   UNSECURED GENERAL CREDITOR STATUS OF EMPLOYEE

      The payments to Participants and their Beneficiaries hereunder shall be
made from the general corporate assets of the Company. No person shall have any
interest in any such assets by virtue of the provisions of this Plan. The
Company's obligation hereunder shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay
money in the future. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive
payments from the Company under the provisions hereof, such right shall be no
greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company; no such
person shall have nor acquire any legal or equitable right, interest or claim in
or to any property or assets of the Company. Any accounts maintained under this
Plan shall be hypothetical in nature and shall be maintained for bookkeeping
purposes only. Neither the Plan nor any account shall hold any actual funds or
assets.

12.   SHARES; ADJUSTMENTS IN EVENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

      In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Stock of the Company
by reason of any stock split, share dividend, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, reorganization, combination, or exchange or reclassification of
shares, split-up, split-off, spin-off, liquidation or other similar change in
capitalization, or any distribution to common shareholders other than cash
dividends, the number or kind of shares or Stock Units that may be credited
under the Plan shall be automatically adjusted so that the proportionate
interest of the Participants shall be maintained as before the occurrence of
such event. Such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of
the Plan.

13.   INALIENABILITY OF BENEFITS

      The interests of the Participants and their Beneficiaries under the Plan
may not in any way be voluntarily or involuntarily transferred, alienated or
assigned, nor subject to attachment, execution, garnishment or other such
equitable or legal process. A Participant or Beneficiary cannot waive the
provisions of this Section 13.

14.   CLAIMS PROCEDURE

                                       10
<PAGE>

      Any Participant, Beneficiary or any other person claiming benefits,
eligibility, participation or any other right or interest under this Plan may
file a written claim setting forth the basis of the claim with the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company ("CEO"). A written notice of the CEO's
disposition of any such claim shall be furnished to the claimant within a
reasonable time (not to exceed ninety (90) days) after the claim is received by
the CEO. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the CEO may have additional time (not to
exceed ninety (90) days) to decide the claim if special circumstances exist,
provided that he advises the claimant, in writing and prior to the end of the
initial ninety (90) day period, of the special circumstances giving rise to the
need for additional time and the date on which he expects to decide the claim.
If the claim is denied, in whole or in part, the notice of disposition shall
include the specific reason for the denial, identify the specific provisions of
the Plan upon which the denial is based, describe any additional material or
information necessary to perfect the claim, explain why that material or
information is necessary and describe the Plan's review procedures, including
the timeframes thereunder for a claimant to file a request for review and for
the Committee to decide the claim. The notice shall also include a statement
advising the claimant of his right to bring a civil action if his claim is
denied, in whole or in part, upon review.

      Within sixty (60) days after receiving the written notice of the CEO's
disposition of the claim, the claimant may request, in writing, review by the
Committee of the CEO's decision regarding his claim. Upon written request, the
claimant shall be entitled to a review meeting with the Committee to present
reasons why the claim should be allowed. The claimant or his authorized
representative may submit a written statement in support of his claim, together
with such comments, information and material relating to the claim, as he deems
necessary or appropriate. The claimant or his duly authorized representative
shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and
copies of, all documents, records and other information which are relevant to
the claimant's claim and its review. If the claimant does not request review
within sixty (60) days after receiving written notice of the CEO's disposition
of the claim, the claimant shall be deemed to have accepted the CEO's written
disposition.

      The Committee shall make its decision on review and provide written notice
thereof to the claimant within a reasonable time (not to exceed sixty (60) days)
after the claim is received by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Committee may have additional time (not to exceed sixty (60) days) to decide the
claim if special circumstances exist provided that the Committee advises the
claimant, in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60) day period, of
the special circumstances giving rise to the need for additional time and the
date on which it expects to decide the claim. In no event shall the Committee
have more than one hundred twenty (120) days following its receipt of the
claimant's request for review to provide the claimant with written notice of its
decision. The Committee shall have the right to request of and receive from
claimant such additional information, documents or other evidence as the
Committee may reasonably require. In the event that the Committee requests such
additional information from the claimant, the period for making the benefit
determination on review shall not take into account the period beginning on the
date on which the Committee notifies the claimant in writing of the need for
additional information and ending on the date on which the claimant responds to
the request for additional information.

      If the claim is denied upon review, in whole or in part, the notice of
disposition shall include the specific reason for the denial, identify the
specific provision of the Plan upon which the denial is based, include a
statement advising the claimant of his right to receive, upon written request
and free of charge, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records
and other information which

                                       11
<PAGE>

are relevant to the claimant's claim and include a statement advising the
claimant of his right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of the Act if
his claim is denied, in whole or in part, upon review.

      For purposes of this Section, a document, record or information will be
considered "relevant' if it (a) was relied upon by the CEO or Committee, as
applicable, in making the benefit decision, (b) was submitted, considered or
generated in the course of making such decision, even if it was not relied upon
in making those decisions, or (c) demonstrates compliance with the
administrative processes and safeguards established by the Plan to insure that
the terms of the Plan have been followed and applied consistently.

      To the extent permitted by law, a decision on review by the Committee
shall be binding and conclusive upon all persons whomsoever. Completion of the
claims procedure described in this Section shall be a mandatory precondition
that must be complied with prior to commencement of a legal or equitable action
in connection with the Plan by a person claiming rights under the Plan, or by
another person claiming rights through such a person. The Committee may, in its
sole discretion, waive these procedures as a mandatory precondition to such an
action.

      In the case of an adverse benefit determination on review, in addition to
the information described above, the notice shall state: "You and your Plan may
have other voluntary alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation.
One way to find out what may be available is to contact your local U.S.
Department of Labor Office and your State insurance regulatory agency."

15.   GOVERNING LAW

      The provisions of this plan shall be interpreted and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, except to the extent preempted
by federal law.

16.   AMENDMENTS

      The Committee may amend, alter or terminate this Plan at any time without
the prior approval of the Board; provided, however, that the Committee may not,
without approval by the Board, materially increase the benefits accruing to
Participants under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment,
modification or termination which would reasonably be considered to be adverse
to a Participant or Beneficiary may apply to or affect the terms of any deferral
of Compensation that was approved prior to the effective date of such amendment,
modification or termination, without the consent of the Participant or
Beneficiary affected thereby.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Deferred Compensation Plan is effective as of
January 1, 2004.

                                    VISTACARE, INC.

                                    BY:
                                       ---------------------------

                                    TITLE:
                                          ------------------------------

                                       12
<PAGE>

                                Sample ERISA Form

            ERISA Notice for Unfunded Deferred Compensation Plans

            Attached is a sample form of notice which may be used to satisfy the
alternative ERISA reporting requirements for an unfunded plan of deferred
compensation for a select group of Employees. The notice should be filed,
preferably on VistaCare, Inc. letterhead, within 120 days after a new plan is
established. Even if VistaCare, Inc. has not previously filed with respect to
any prior plan or plans, it should include them in reporting the number of plans
and Employees covered in items 3 and 4.

      Plan documents need not be filed, unless they are specifically requested
by the Secretary of Labor.

      If VistaCare, Inc. fails to file the notice, the plan will be subject
to the burdensome reporting and disclosure requirements of ERISA Title I,
Subtitle B, Part 1.

                                       13
<PAGE>

                                      Date

Office of Participant Benefits Security
Labor Management Service Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, DC 20216

      Re:   Notice of Plan(s) of Deferred Compensation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      Pursuant to DOL Reg. Sec. 2520.104 23, the undersigned Employer hereby
files the following information with respect to its plan of deferred
compensation.

      1.    Name and Address of Employer:

            VistaCare, Inc.
            8125 East Hayden Road, Suite 300
            Scottsdale, AZ 85258

      2.    Federal Employer Identification No. (EIN):
            -----------------------------------------

      3.    The Employer maintains __ plan(s) of deferred compensation primarily
for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to a select group of
management or highly compensated Employees.

      4.    _____  Employee(s) is/are covered by such plan(s).

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    ------------------------------

                                    By:
                                       ---------------------------

                                       14<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.45

                                 FIRST AMENDMENT

                                     TO THE

                                 VISTACARE, INC.
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

      This First Amendment (this "AMENDMENT") to the VistaCare, Inc. 1998 Stock
Option Plan, as amended and restated April 12, 2004 (the "PLAN"), was approved
on August 10, 2004 in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan by the Board of
Directors (the "BOARD") of VistaCare, Inc. (the "COMPANY").

      Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Plan.

      WHEREAS, the Board determined that it is desirable and in the best
interests of the Company and its employees to permit certain officers of the
Company the authority to grant to other officers and employees of the Company
and its Affiliates Options and Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan; and

      WHEREAS, the Board desires to amend the Plan to provide for the foregoing:

      NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows:

      1.    AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 1 ( C ). Subsection 1 ( c ) of the Plan is
            hereby amended by inserting the words "or any Authorized Officer
            with authority to make Awards, in each case," immediately following
            the words "has been delegated" and immediately preceding the words
            "pursuant to subsection 3 ( c )" in the first sentence thereof.

      2.    AMENDMENT TO SECTION 2. Section 2 of the Plan is hereby amended by
            inserting the following definition therein in alphabetical order:

            "'AUTHORIZED OFFICER' shall have the meaning set forth in subsection
            3 ( c )."

      3.    AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 3 ( A ). Subsection 3 ( a ) of the Plan is
            hereby amended by deleting the words "to a Committee, as provided in
            subsection 3 ( c )" appearing therein and inserting in lieu thereof
            the words "in accordance with subsection 3 ( c )".

      4.    AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 3 ( C ). Subsection 3 ( c ) of the Plan is
            hereby amended by adding the following text at the end thereof:

<PAGE>

            "In addition, the Board (or the Committee, if applicable) may
            authorize one or more officers of the Company (each an "AUTHORIZED
            OFFICER") to:

                  (1)   designate officers and employees of the Company or any
                        Affiliate of the Company to whom Awards may be made
                        hereunder, and

                  (2)   determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject
                        to any such Award,

            provided, however, that the resolution adopted by the Board (or the
            Committee, if applicable) regarding the appointment of any
            Authorized Officer shall specify the aggregate number of shares of
            Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards designated by
            such Authorized Officer; and, provided, further, that an Authorized
            Officer may not designate himself or herself as a recipient of any
            such Award."

      5. SURVIVAL. Except as specifically amended hereby, the Plan shall remain
in full force and effect.

      6. EFFECTIVENESS. This Amendment became effective as of August 10, 2004.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00094-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00094-of-00352.parquet"}]]