Extendicare President and CEO Addresses Hughes and Coleman Attack on Nursing Homes

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN--(Marketwire - June 14, 2012) - Tim Lukenda, President and CEO of Extendicare, spoke out on behalf of long term care professionals in Kentucky and throughout the United States by addressing the statements made by Lee Coleman of Hughes and Coleman in a press release dated June 9, 2012. "Mr. Coleman's attack on the caring individuals that serve Kentucky's frailest individuals is unwarranted and unappreciated. His effort to engage in a thinly-veiled publicity stunt to solicit business in the name of 'ensuring the state's elderly citizens receive the care they deserve' is simply shameful."

"These comments are an affront to all of the dedicated individuals who have chosen a career in caregiving and who go to work every day to provide love, care and support to those entrusted to them. As a company, Extendicare has operated in the state of Kentucky for over 35 years. During that period of time, our dedicated professionals have endeavored to take care of the sickest of the sick, those individuals who often have nowhere else to turn to have their daily needs met during the most vulnerable times in their lives. Make no mistake - working in long term care is a tough occupation and we are not perfect. However, we remain focused on our mission of helping people live better as evidenced by these facts:

• Last year, 81% of our customers in the state of Kentucky were satisfied overall with the care and services they received and 81% would recommend their center to others. This survey is conducted by an independent research firm, My Innerview.
• Since the inception of the CMS 5-Star Rating Program in 2008, the number of centers in Kentucky with 2 or more stars has improved by 54% for the overall rating and 70% for the staffing rating.
• In the last year, 14% of our Kentucky centers have received Deficiency-Free surveys.
• On average, our Kentucky centers have received well below the state industry average number of deficiencies per center.
• Extendicare's Kentucky centers are well below the state average for serious deficiencies as well. To date in 2012, not one Kentucky center has received a substandard quality of care or immediate jeopardy finding.
• More than half - 13 of our 21 Kentucky centers - have received the prestigious Bronze Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.
• Our employees are proud of the work they do and in fact, 86% of employees surveyed would recommend their center for care."

"These are the facts and we are proud of the hard work of our employees and we are proud of our company.

Our employees are sometimes the only 'family' a resident has and the bond is so strong that in the town of Salyersville recently, staff members stayed in the building during a tornado as the town fell apart around them and prayed all night with residents in the hallways, comforting them, keeping them safe. Perhaps these lawyers should walk a mile in our staff's shoes, and then they will understand the dedication and commitment required to work in the long term care profession. We all want the highest quality of care possible in our nation's nursing homes. If these plaintiff attorneys truly feel the same, then I challenge them to donate their fees from suing nursing homes to improve the lives of seniors in their communities. Those who spend their daily lives caring for our seniors deserve better than to be denigrated by the uninformed and self-serving comments of an attorney who is seeking only to generate business for himself."