Exhibit 99.1

   Advocat Facilities Receive National Quality Awards From American
                        Healthcare Association

    FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2004--Advocat Inc.
(NASDAQ OTC: AVCA) today announced that four of its long-term care
facilities were recognized with National Quality Awards by the
American Healthcare Association.
    The Company's Elliott Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sandy
Hook, Kentucky, was awarded the Step II award, the first Advocat
facility to achieve this level of recognition by the American
Healthcare Association. In 2003, the Elliott facility was named
Statewide Facility of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Health
Care Facilities (KAHCF), the trade association that represents
proprietary and nonproprietary long-term care facilities in the state.
    "The Elliott Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is now eligible for
the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge award since they have achieved the
Step II recognition from the American Healthcare Association," stated
William R. Council, III, Chief Executive Officer of Advocat. "The
continued excellence demonstrated at Elliott is a credit to the
administrator Benita Adkins and her entire staff for their dedication
and professionalism."
    In addition to the Elliott recognition, three additional
facilities were recognized with the Step I award by the American
Healthcare Association. The Chisholm Trail Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center in Lockhart, Texas, received Step I recognition and was one of
only four homes in Texas to receive this distinction. Also achieving
Step I awards were the West Liberty Nursing and Rehab Center, West
Liberty, Kentucky, and Laurel Nursing and Rehab Center, Ivydale, West
Virginia.
    Eligibility for these national awards includes at least a three
year history of excellence in quality care, staff and residents'
satisfaction, and regulatory compliance.
    Mr. Council added, "I am very proud of the entire team at each of
these facilities. The administrators and directors of nursing for
these facilities have created an environment that fosters quality
performance. They are a credit to our Company and to the Long Term
Care Profession."

    Forward-looking statements made in this release involve a number
of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, uncertainty
regarding the Company's ability to restructure or refinance its debt,
the impact of under-insured professional liability claims, factors
affecting the long-term care industry in general, governmental
reimbursement, government regulation, health care reforms, the impact
of future licensing surveys, changing economic and market conditions
and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and
Exchange Commission filings. Advocat Inc. is not responsible for
updating the information contained in this press release beyond the
published date, or for changes made to this document by wire services
or Internet services.
    Advocat Inc. provides long-term care services to nursing home
patients and residents of assisted living facilities in nine states,
primarily in the Southeast.
    For additional information about the Company, visit Advocat's web
site: http://www.irinfo.com/avc.

    CONTACT: Advocat Inc., Franklin
             William R. Council, III, 615-771-7575