FORM 4

__ Check this box if no longer
     subject to Section 16. Form 4
     or Form 5 obligations may
     continue. See Instruction 1(b).

(Print or Type Responses)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Perry Jr. Vernon A.	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Gentiva Health Services, Inc. (GTIV)						6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) ____ Director ___ 10% Owner _X__ Officer (give title below) ___Other (specify below) _ President & Chief Operating Officer __
(Last) (First) (Middle) 10 Park Avenue	3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (voluntary)			4. Statement for Month/Day/Year January 2, 2003
(Street) New York, New York 10016				5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)			7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X__ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City) (State) (Zip)	Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/ Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/ Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/ Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/ Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1.Title of
   Derivative
   Security
   (Instr.3)

2.Conversion or
Exercise Price of
Derivative Security

3.
Transac-tion Date
(Month/
Day/Year)

3A.
Deemed
Execution
Date, if
any
(Month/
Day/Year)

4.Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)

5.Number of Derivative
   Securities Acquired
   (A) or Disposed of (D)
   (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)

6.Date Exerciseable
and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)

7.Title and Amount of
Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)

8.Price of
   Derivative
   Security
   (Instr. 5)

9.Number of
   Derivative
   Securities
    Beneficially
    Owned at
    End of Month
    (Instr. 4)

10.Ownership
     Form of
     Derivative
     Securities
     Beneficially
     Owned at
     End of Month
     (Instr. 4)

11.Nature of
     Indirect
     Beneficial
     Ownership
     (Instr. 4)

Code

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock option

8.74

1/02/03

40,000

1/02/13

Common stock

40,000

112,000

* Options vest 50% after two years, 75% after three years and 100% after four years.
		/s/ John T. Price, Attorney-in-fact **Signature of Reporting Person	January 22, 2003 Date

Reminder:	Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note:	File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure

PERRY VERNON A JR 4