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                                  EXHIBIT 10.33

                             SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

         This Agreement, made on June 1, 1999, by and between Roto-Rooter
Services Company ("the Corporation"), an Iowa corporation with offices at 2500
Chemed Center, 255 E. Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and Spencer S. Lee
(the "Employee"), who is an employee of the Corporation.

         1.   PREMISES

                  1.1 The Employee is a valuable employee of the Corporation.
                  He/she wishes to provide adequate protection for his/her
                  family by insuring his/her life. The Corporation will assist
                  the Employee in providing this insurance coverage by payment
                  of part of the premiums under a split dollar arrangement,
                  whereby the Employee will be the owner of a life insurance
                  policy which will be collaterally assigned to the Corporation
                  as security for amounts the Corporation will contribute for
                  the premium payments.

         2.   APPLICATION FOR INSURANCE

                  2.1 The Employee has applied to Phoenix Home Life Mutual
                  Insurance Company for an Executive Equity Life Insurance Plan
                  on the life of the Employee for $1,600,000 ("Policy").

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         3.  POLICY OWNERSHIP

                  3.1 The Employee shall own the Policy and may exercise all
                  rights of ownership with respect to it, subject only to the
                  security interest of the Corporation as expressed in this
                  Agreement and the collateral assignment of the Policy to the
                  Corporation.

         4.  PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS

                  4.1 On or before the due date of each annual premium on the
                  Policy, the Corporation will pay to Phoenix Home Life Mutual
                  Insurance Company an amount equal to the greater of 80 percent
                  of the annual premium or the annual premium less the economic
                  benefit cost received by the Employee (as measured by the
                  Phoenix Home Life term insurance rates) for the portion of the
                  insurance which the beneficiary or beneficiaries named by the
                  Employee or their transferee would be entitled to receive if
                  the Employee died during the policy year for which the annual
                  premium is paid.

                  4.2 On or before the due date of each annual premium on the
                  Policy, the Corporation will pay to Phoenix Home Life Mutual
                  Insurance Company,


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                  on behalf of the Employee, the remainder of the annual
                  premium. This payment will constitute compensation to the
                  Employee in the form of a bonus and will be considered paid by
                  the Employee for purposes of the Assignment (as defined in
                  Article 5).

                  4.3 These premium advances by the Corporation shall apply
                  specifically to annual premiums due under the Policy up to the
                  Employee's age of 65. However, additional premium advances may
                  be made by mutual agreement of the parties.

         5.   ASSIGNMENT OF POLICY

                  5.1 The Employee shall collaterally assign the Policy to the
                  Corporation so as to reflect the respective interests of the
                  parties under this Agreement, said collateral assignment
                  ("Assignment") having been executed by the parties on the date
                  of this Split Dollar Agreement, and thus made a part of such
                  Policy and this Agreement.

         6.   USE OF DIVIDENDS

                  6.1 The dividends declared by Phoenix Home Life Mutual
                  Insurance Company on the Policy will be


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                  used to purchase Option Term with the balance used to purchase
                  paid-up insurance.

                  6.2 The dividend option which is specified in paragraph 6.1 of
                  this Article will not be terminated or changed without a
                  conforming amendment to this Agreement and unless such change
                  is done in accordance with the provisions of Part D "Joint
                  Rights" section of the Assignment.

         7.   SURRENDER OF POLICY

                  7.1 The Employee shall have the sole and exclusive right to
                  surrender the Policy.

                  7.2 If the Policy is surrendered, the Employee shall direct
                  the insurance company in writing to draw a check payable to
                  the Corporation in an amount equal to the "Assignee's Cash
                  Value Rights", as defined within the provisions of Part A
                  "Definitions" section of the Assignment.

                  7.3 If there is a delay in the surrender of the Policy by
                  either party to this Agreement, and if such delay results in
                  diminished policy values being available to either party,
                  neither party to this Agreement shall hold the insurance


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                  company liable for such diminution in Policy values.

         8.   DEATH CLAIMS

                  8.1 Upon the death of the Employee, the Corporation shall have
                  an interest in the proceeds of the Policy equal to the
                  "Assignee's Death Benefit Share", as defined within the
                  provisions of Part A "Definitions" section of the Assignment.
                  The balance of proceeds remaining shall be paid directly by
                  the insurance company to the beneficiary or beneficiaries
                  designated in the Policy.

         9.   TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

                  9.1 This Agreement shall terminate upon surrender of the
                  Policy by the Employee or upon thirty (30) days' written
                  notice of termination given by either party to the other by
                  registered mail at the party's last known address.

                  9.2 Prior to termination of this Agreement, the Employee shall
                  direct the insurance company in writing to draw a check
                  payable to the Corporation for an amount equal to the
                  "Assignee's Cash Value Interest", as defined within the
                  provisions of Part A "Definitions"


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                  section of the Assignment. Upon receipt of this amount, the
                  Corporation shall release the security interest of the
                  Corporation expressed in this Agreement and the Assignment.

         10.  SPECIAL PROVISIONS

                  The following provisions are part of this Plan and are
                  intended to meet the requirements of the Employee Retirement
                  Income Security Act of 1974:

                  10.01 -  The named fiduciary: The Secretary of the Company

                  10.02 -  The funding policy under this Plan is that all
                           premiums on the Policy be remitted to the Insurer
                           when due.

                  10.03 -  Direct payment by the Insurer is the basis of
                           payment of benefits under this Plan, with those
                           benefits in turn being based on the payment of
                           premiums as provided in the Plan.

                  10.04 -  For claims procedure purposes, the "Claims Manager"
                           shall be the Secretary of the Company.


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                           (a)      If for any reason a claim for benefits under
                                    this Plan is denied by the Company, the
                                    Claims Manager shall deliver to the claimant
                                    a written explanation setting forth the
                                    specific reasons for the denial, pertinent
                                    references to the Plan section on which the
                                    denial is based, such other data as may be
                                    pertinent and information on the procedures
                                    to be followed by the claimant in obtaining
                                    a review of his claim, all written in a
                                    manner calculated to be understood by the
                                    claimant. For this purpose:

                                    (1)      The claimant's claim shall be
                                             deemed filed when presented orally
                                             or in writing to the Claims
                                             Manager.


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                                    (2)      The Claims Manager's explanation
                                             shall be in writing delivered to
                                             the claimant within 90 days of the
                                             date the claim is filed.

                           (b)      The claimant shall have 60 days following
                                    his/her receipt of the denial of the claim
                                    to file with the Claims Manager a written
                                    request for review of the denial. For such
                                    review, the claimant or his/her
                                    representative may submit pertinent
                                    documents and written issues and comments.

                           (c)      The Claims Manager shall decide the issue on
                                    review and furnish the claimant with a copy
                                    within 60 days of receipt of the claimant's
                                    request for review of his/her claim. The
                                    decision on review shall be in writing and
                                    shall include


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                                    specific reasons for the decision written in
                                    a manner calculated to be understood by the
                                    claimant, as well as specific references to
                                    the pertinent Plan provisions on which the
                                    decision is based. If a copy of the decision
                                    is not so furnished to the claimant within
                                    such 60 days, the claims shall be deemed
                                    denied on review.

         11.  AMENDMENT AND BINDING EFFECT

                  11.1 This embodies all agreements by the parties made with
                  respect to the Policy. The Agreement shall not be modified or
                  amended except by a writing signed by the parties. The
                  Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs,
                  legal representatives, successors and assigns.

         12.  GOVERNING LAW

                  12.1 This Agreement shall be subject to and shall be construed
                  under the laws of the State of Ohio.


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         Executed by the parties at Cincinnati, Ohio, as of June 1, 1999.

                                       ROTO-ROOTER SERVICES COMPANY

                                       By: /s/ Naomi C. Dallob, Secretary
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Witness                                   Signature, Corporate Title


                                       By: /s/ Spencer S. Lee
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Witness                                   Employee/Insured


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