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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MHI39/xWOV+L2aGjD8u1ZhEkl053odgHQEN/14xALz2weepCkeXuVQMQQSQ8dLxv
 +3DIpo90wmDjj3t/3OZm8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-10-060003.txt : 20101124
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-10-060003.hdr.sgml : 20101124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101124153027
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-10-060003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101122
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOAGLAND PAUL V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233094

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16817
		FILM NUMBER:		101214956

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O REIT MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH LLC
		STREET 2:		400 CENTRE STREET
		CITY:			NEWTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02458

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIVE STAR QUALITY CARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159281
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SKILLED NURSING CARE FACILITIES [8051]
		IRS NUMBER:				043516029
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 CENTRE STREET
		CITY:			NEWTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617 796 8387

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 CENTRE ST
		CITY:			NEWTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02458
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001159281</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIVE STAR QUALITY CARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FVE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233094</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOAGLAND PAUL V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O REIT MANAGEMENT &amp; RESEARCH LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>400 CENTRE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02458</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Treasurer &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Transaction reported is grant of shares pursuant to the issuer's stock option and stock incentive plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul V. Hoagland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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