MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN--(Marketwire -06/04/12)- Extendicare Health Services, Inc. announced today that 19 of its health centers are the proud recipients of the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living's (AHCA/NCAL) Bronze - Commitment to Quality, National Quality Award in recognition of their strong commitment to continuous quality improvement.

The AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards - comprised of three levels, Bronze - Commitment to Quality award; a more rigorous Silver - Achievement in Quality award; and a comprehensive Gold - Excellence in Quality award - are the most prestigious recognition of quality within the long-term care profession. "Each one of the award recipients has proven its dedication to improving lives through quality care, and it is a privilege to honor them with this year's award," said Governor Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. "We congratulate these Extendicare centers on their achievement." The Bronze - Commitment to Quality award recognizes dedicated frontline caregivers, administrators, nurses and physicians, who demonstrate their commitment to quality of care in order to meet the needs for our nation's most vulnerable population.

As a Bronze award recipient, these health centers demonstrated their organization-wide commitment to a customer-focused facility mission, defined its principal customers and their expectations, and indicated ways that they are striving to meet their needs.

"The Quality Award program is an independently judged, criteria-based, award program. This year, only 399 long-term care centers nationwide received this noteworthy award and we are pleased to be counted among them. As a company, Extendicare now has 107 centers who have received this award, representing over 65% of our United States operations. We are proud of this accomplishment and thank our team members for their strong commitment to excellence," said Tim Lukenda, Chairman and CEO of Extendicare Health Services, Inc.

AHCA/NCAL's Quality Award is modeled after the criteria of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's premier award recognizing distinguished achievements. AHCA/NCAL's award is designed to support both continuous quality improvement efforts in long-term care by promoting quality awareness and education and to recognize quality achievements.

About Extendicare

Extendicare Health Services, Inc. located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a wholly owned subsidiary of Extendicare Real Estate Investment Trust, or Extendicare REIT, (TSX symbol "EXE.UN"). Extendicare REIT is a leading North American provider of long-term and short-term senior care services through its network of owned and operated health care centers. We employ 37,900 qualified and experienced individuals dedicated to helping people live better through a commitment to quality service that includes post-acute care, rehabilitative therapies and home health care services. Our 263 senior care centers in North America have capacity for approximately 28,200 residents.

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Nineteen Extendicare Health Centers Earn National Recognition for Continuous Quality Improvement