Exhibit 5.1

                     March 31, 1997

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

          Re:  Securities Act of 1933 Form S-8
               Registration Statement for the Century
               Care Management, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          I have acted as counsel for The Multicare Companies, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the proposed
issuance by the Company of up to 250,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), under the Century Care
Management, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (the "Plan"), which Common Stock is
being registered pursuant to the filing of a Registration Statement on Form
S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act").

          I have examined the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company, its Bylaws, the Plan and such other corporate records, certificates,
documents and matters of law as I have deemed necessary to render this
opinion.

          Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the shares of
Common Stock to be issued under the terms of the Plan will duly be
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

          I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibits 5.1 and
23.2 to the Registration Statement.  By giving such consent, I do not thereby
admit that I am an expert with respect to any part of the Registration
Statement, including this exhibit, within the meaning of the term "expert" as
used in the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission issued thereunder.

                              Very truly yours,

                              /s/ Bradford C. Burkett

                                  Bradford C. Burkett