<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 8-K OF
     CHEMED CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS
     QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<CIK>                         0000019584
<NAME>                        CHEMED CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         8,153
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  58,561
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (4,532)
<INVENTORY>                                    10,540
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               105,618
<PP&E>                                         135,803
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (62,662)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 423,380
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          100,073
<BONDS>                                        68,516
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          15,067
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       13,889
<OTHER-SE>                                     194,494
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   423,380
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               370,533
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  224,539
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,202
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             5,233
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                25,575
<INCOME-TAX>                                   9,925
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            15,650
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   15,650
<EPS-BASIC>                                    1.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.57