EXHIBIT 99.1

             Chemed Corporation Holds Annual Stockholders' Meeting;
                       Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

    CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2006--Stockholders of Chemed
Corporation (NYSE:CHE) today elected a slate of 13 directors at the
company's 2006 annual stockholders' meeting. Each of the directors
continues from the prior term.
    Shareholders also adopted the company's 2006 Stock Incentive Plan,
increased the number of authorized shares of Capital Stock from
40,000,000 to 80,000,000 shares, and ratified the continuation of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the company's independent accountants
for 2006.

    Dividend Declared

    Following the stockholders' meeting, Chemed's Board of Directors
declared a quarterly cash dividend of 6 cents per share on the
company's capital stock, payable on June 9, 2006, to stockholders of
record May 27, 2006. This represents the 140th consecutive quarterly
dividend paid to shareholders in Chemed's 35 years as a public
company.
    Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in
Cincinnati, Ohio, Chemed Corporation (www.chemed.com) operates two
wholly owned subsidiaries: VITAS Healthcare and Roto-Rooter. VITAS is
the nation's largest provider of end-of-life hospice care, and
Roto-Rooter is the nation's leading provider of plumbing and drain
cleaning services.

    Statements in this press release or in other Chemed communications
may relate to future events or Chemed's future performance. Such
statements are forward-looking statements and are based on present
information Chemed has related to its existing business circumstances.
Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are
subject to inherent risk and that actual results may differ materially
from such forward-looking statements. Further, investors are cautioned
that Chemed does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking
statements based on unanticipated events or changed expectations.

    CONTACT: Chemed Corporation
             David P. Williams, 513-762-6901