Gentiva(R) Health Services Receives Nasdaq Notification Regarding Independent Director...

Gentiva(R) Health Services Receives Nasdaq Notification Regarding Independent
Director Requirement

ATLANTA, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gentiva Health Services, Inc.
(Nasdaq: GTIV), a leading provider of comprehensive home health services,
reported today that on May 14, 2009 it received official notification from
Nasdaq that it is no longer in compliance with the exchange's independent
director requirements as set forth in Listing Rule 5605.

Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1), Gentiva has a cure period in order to
regain compliance as follows:
-- until the earlier of the Company's next annual shareholders'
meeting or May 14, 2010; or

-- if the next annual shareholders' meeting is held before November
10, 2009, then the Company must evidence compliance no later than
November 10, 2009.

In its March 27, 2009 Form 8-K, Gentiva reported that five independent members
of the Company's Board of Directors did not stand for re-election at the
Company's annual meeting of shareholders held on May 14, 2009. Gentiva's
Board currently consists of six members, of which three directors are
independent as defined by Nasdaq listing standards. Consequently, a majority
of the Board will not be independent until Gentiva adds another independent
director. Gentiva notified Nasdaq of its non-compliance by letter immediately
following its annual meeting.

As stated in its annual Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 17, 2009,
Gentiva anticipates that it will expand the size of the Board of Directors to
nine members and is seeking additional qualified candidates who are
independent and who would be added to the Board by a vote of directors, in
accordance with authority provided to the Board in the Company's by-laws.
Gentiva intends to meet the requirement of having a majority of independent
directors as soon as practicable, and in any event prior to the expiration of
the cure period permitted under Nasdaq listing standards.

About Gentiva Health Services, Inc.
Gentiva Health Services, Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive home
health services, delivering innovative, high quality care to patients across
the United States. Gentiva is a single source for skilled nursing; physical,
occupational, speech and neurorehabilitation services; hospice services;
social work; nutrition; disease management education; help with daily living
activities; respiratory therapy and home medical equipment; infusion therapy
services; and other therapies and services. For more information, visit
Gentiva's web site, http://www.gentiva.com, and its investor relations section
at http://investors.gentiva.com. GTIV-G

Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements contained in this news release, including, without
limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates,"
"intends," "expects," "assumes," "trends" and similar expressions, constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon the
Company's current plans, expectations and projections about future events.
However, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
factors include, among others, the following: economic and business
conditions, including the ability to access capital markets; demographic
changes; changes in, or failure to comply with, existing governmental
regulations; legislative proposals for healthcare reform; changes in Medicare
and Medicaid reimbursement levels; effects of competition in the markets in
which the Company operates; liability and other claims asserted against the
Company; ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; availability and
terms of capital; loss of significant contracts or reduction in revenues
associated with major payer sources; ability of customers to pay for services;
business disruption due to natural disasters or terrorist acts; ability to
successfully integrate the operations of acquisitions the Company may make and
achieve expected synergies and operational efficiencies within expected
time-frames; effect on liquidity of the Company's debt service requirements;
and changes in estimates and judgments associated with critical accounting
policies and estimates. For a detailed discussion of certain of these and
other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained
in this news release, please refer to the Company's various filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the "Risk Factors" section
contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 28, 2008.

Financial and Investor Contact:
John R. Potapchuk
631-501-7035
john.potapchuk@gentiva.com
or Brandon Ballew
770-221-6700
brandon.ballew@gentiva.com

Media Contact:
Jennifer Gery-Egan
Brainerd Communicators
212-986-6667
gery@braincomm.com

SOURCE Gentiva Health Services, Inc.

Financial and Investor, John R. Potapchuk, +1-631-501-7035,
john.potapchuk@gentiva.com; or Brandon Ballew, +1-770-221-6700,
brandon.ballew@gentiva.com; or Media, Jennifer Gery-Egan, Brainerd
Communicators, +1-212-986-6667, gery@braincomm.com