Document:

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Exhibit 10.53

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR ANY
STATE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY PORTION HEREOF OR INTEREST
HEREIN MAY BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF
UNLESS THE SAME IS REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAW, OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE AND BALANCED
CARE CORPORATION SHALL HAVE RECEIVED, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HOLDER HEREOF,
EVIDENCE OF SUCH EXEMPTION REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO BALANCED CARE CORPORATION
(WHICH MAY INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO
BALANCED CARE CORPORATION).

THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THIS INSTRUMENT IS SUBORDINATED TO THE PRIOR
PAYMENT IN FULL OF THE SENIOR DEBT (AS DEFINED IN THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO) PURSUANT TO, AND TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN, THAT
CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF APRIL 4, 2001, AMONG BALANCED CARE
CORPORATION, HELLER HEALTHCARE FINANCE, INC., VXM INVESTMENTS LIMITED, HR
INVESTMENTS LIMITED, RH INVESTMENTS LIMITED AND THE OTHER PARTIES IDENTIFIED
THEREIN (THE "SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT"). ANY HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE BOUND BY, AND SUBJECT TO, THE TERMS OF THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT.

                                      NOTE

$800,000                                                          April 29, 2002

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Balanced Care
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Maker"), hereby promises to pay to the
order of VXM Investments Limited, a Cayman Islands corporation, as agent (the
"Agent") for the Lenders identified in the Bridge Loan Agreement, dated as of
April 4, 2001, among the Company, such Lenders and the Agent, as amended as of
June 12, 2001, as further amended as of July 6, 2001, as further amended as of
August 8, 2001, as further amended as of September 6, 2001, as further amended
as of October 4, 2001, as further amended as of October 29, 2001, as further
amended as of November 19, 2001, as further amended as of December 11, 2001, as
further amended as of January 4, 2002, as further amended as of March 25, 2002
(as the same may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time
in accordance with its terms, the "Loan Agreement"), at the
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office of the Agent c/o Unsworth & Associates, Herengracht 483, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands, to be distributed in accordance with the terms of the Loan
Agreement, the principal sum of EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($800,000), in
lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds, and
to pay interest from the date thereof on the principal amount hereof from time
to time outstanding, in like funds, at said office, at a rate or rates per annum
and, in each case, payable on such dates as determined pursuant to the terms of
the Loan Agreement.

                  The Maker promises to pay interest, on demand, on any overdue
principal and fees and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest from
their due dates at a rate or rates determined as set forth in the Loan
Agreement.

                  The Maker hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand,
protest and notice of any kind whatsoever. The non-exercise by the holder of any
of its rights hereunder in any particular instance shall not constitute a waiver
thereof in that or any subsequent instance.

                  All payments and prepayments of the principal hereof and
interest hereon and the respective dates thereof shall be endorsed by the holder
hereof on the schedule attached hereto and made a part hereof, or on a
continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part hereof, or
otherwise recorded by such holder in its internal records; provided, however,
that the failure of the holder hereof to make such a notation or any error in
such a notation shall not in any manner affect the obligations of the Maker to
make payments of principal and interest in accordance with the terms of this
Note and the Loan Agreement.

                  This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Loan
Agreement (and is secured by the Collateral referred to therein), which, among
other things, contains provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof
upon the happening of certain events, for optional and mandatory prepayment of
the principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof and for the amendment or
waiver of certain provisions of the Loan Agreement, all upon the terms and
conditions therein specified. THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CHOICE OF
LAW DOCTRINE, AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

                                       2
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                                     BALANCED CARE CORPORATION

                                          By: /s/Robin L. Barber
                                             -----------------------------------
                                              Name: Robin L. Barber
                                              Title: Senior Vice President,
                                              Legal Counsel and Assistant
                                                       Secretary<PAGE>
Exhibit 10.54

March 1, 2002

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dick Richardson
1215 Manor Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Dear Mr. Richardson:

Re:   Balanced Care Corporation(the "Company")

Further to our recent discussions, the Company is pleased to offer employment to
you with the effective commencement date of February 1, 2002, on the following
terms. The salary paid between November 20, 2001 and February 1, 2002 was
acceptable and is not covered by this agreement.

Position

         1.       Your position of employment with the Company will be Interim
                  CEO and Principal Financial Officer. You agree to devote
                  substantially all your time and attention to such position and
                  always act in the best interest of the Company.

Duties and Responsibilities

         2.       In addition to any other duties, responsibilities and
                  functions that may be assigned to you by the Company,
                  your duties, responsibilities and functions as Interim
                  CEO and Principal Financial Officer will include those
                  typically associated with such a position.  You will
                  perform your duties at our Mechanicsburg office,
                  presently located at 1215 Manor Drive, or such other
                  office in the Mechanicsburg area as the Company may
                  designate.
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         3.       Your gross salary before deductions will be $180,000
                  (US) per year payable bimonthly.

                  As additional compensation, you will be paid a bonus of
                  $225,000, if you remain employed one year (November 20, 2001
                  to November 19, 2002). Also, if we agree that you will
                  continue to be employed for an additional year (November 20,
                  2002 to November 19, 2003) you will be paid on additional
                  bonus of $225,000.

                  You will be entitled to participate in the Company's benefit
                  plan, the particulars of which have been made known to you,
                  and a copy of which is attached for your reference.

Termination

         4.       This agreement and your employment with the Company may
                  be terminated at any time without cause by the company
                  on 12 months prior written notice or upon payment of 12
                  months regular salary, in lieu of such notice, if such
                  termination occurs prior to the first anniversary of
                  the date of this letter.  Thereafter, this agreement
                  and your employment with the Company may be terminated
                  at anytime without cause by the company on 6 months
                  prior written notice or upon payment of 6 months
                  regular salary, in lieu of such notice.  Aside this,
                  the Company may end your employment at anytime for
                  cause without notice or payment instead of notice.  In
                  addition, your employment will terminate automatically
                  without notice or payment in lieu of notice if you
                  become disabled and unable to work for a period of 4
                  consecutive months, if you die, or if you resign or
                  otherwise leave your employment with the Company.

Confidentiality

         5.       You will keep all information concerning the business and
                  affairs of the Company and all of its affiliates and
                  subsidiaries strictly confidential and not disclose any such
                  information to any other person, firm, or corporation during
                  and after your employment with the
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                  Company.

Survival

         6.       Your obligations set forth in paragraph 5 above survive after
                  your employment with the Company, and any change in your
                  duties, salary, compensation or terms of employment will not
                  affect the validity of this agreement.

         7.       Any notice that is required to be given by one of us to the
                  other under this letter shall be given in writing by personal
                  delivery and shall be deemed received when delivered.

We would ask that you signify your consent to the above terms and conditions of
your employment by signing this letter below and returning a copy to us.

We encourage personal growth and look forward to having you join our team.

Yours very truly,

BCC Compensation Committee

By:/s/Barry Reichmann
      Name: Barry Reichmann
      Title: Director

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Agreed and accepted as of the 1st day of March 2002.

/s/Richard D. Richardson
Richard D. Richardson

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