Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Advocat Inc. Brentwood, Tennessee We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 28, 2006 relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of Advocat Inc. appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Our report contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. /s/ BDO Seidman, LLP Memphis, Tennessee June 6, 2006