Emeritus 10-Q 2012 Q1 Quarterly report

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Emeritus Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Quarterly Report”), I, Granger Cobb, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Quarterly Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

2. The information contained in the Quarterly Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Granger Cobb

Granger Cobb

Chief Executive Officer

May 4, 2012