EXHIBIT 99.1

                             [LETTERHEAD OF VENTAS]



                                                        Contact: Debra A. Cafaro
                                                        President and CEO
                                                        (502) 357-9000


         VENTAS ISSUES STATEMENT ON VOTE FOR VENCOR REORGANIZATION PLAN

LOUISVILLE, KY (February 23, 2001) - Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) ("Ventas" or the
"Company") today issued the following statement regarding its primary tenant,
Vencor, Inc.

     Vencor has filed a brief with the Bankruptcy Court stating that its Plan of
Reorganization has been overwhelmingly accepted by the classes of creditors
entitled to vote on the Plan. Classes voting in favor of the Plan include
Vencor's senior bank creditors, Vencor's subordinated noteholders and the
Department of Justice on behalf of the United States. Vencor's Fourth Amended
Plan of Reorganization was filed in December 2000.

     Under the terms of a stipulation agreement between Ventas and Vencor
entered by the Bankruptcy Court on January 16, 2001, Ventas has an extended
deadline before it is required to cast its vote on the Vencor Plan. Ventas has
reserved all of its rights regarding the proposed Vencor Reorganization Plan and
the confirmation process while Vencor is finalizing the definitive documentation
to effectuate the terms of the Plan.

     A confirmation hearing on the Vencor Reorganization Plan is scheduled for
March 1, 2001.

     Ventas is a real estate investment trust whose properties include 45
hospitals, 216 nursing centers, and eight personal care facilities operating in
36 states.

     This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act")
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the
"Exchange Act"). All statements regarding the Company's and its subsidiaries'
expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, funds
from operations, dividends and dividend plans, financing plans, business
strategy, budgets, projected costs, capital expenditures, competitive positions,
growth opportunities, expected lease income, continued qualification as a real
estate investment trust, plans and objectives of management for future
operations and statements that include words such as "anticipate," "believe,"
"plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," and other similar
expressions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are
inherently uncertain, and stockholders must recognize that actual results may
differ from the Company's expectations. The Company does not undertake any duty
to update such forward-looking statements.






     Actual future results and trends for the Company may differ materially
depending on a variety of factors discussed in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Factors that may affect the plans or results
of the Company include, without limitation, (a) the treatment of the Company's
claims in the chapter 11 cases of its primary tenant, Vencor, Inc. and certain
of its affiliates (collectively referred to in this paragraph as "Vencor"), as
well as certain of its other tenants, (b) the ability and willingness of Vencor
to continue to meet and/or honor its obligations under the agreements the
Company and Vencor entered into in connection with the 1998 spin off by the
Company of Vencor (the "1998 Spin Off"), including, without limitation, the
obligation to indemnify and defend the Company for all litigation and other
claims relating to the health care operations and other assets and liabilities
transferred to Vencor in the 1998 Spin Off, (c) the ability of Vencor and the
Company's other operators to maintain the financial strength and liquidity
necessary to satisfy their respective obligations and duties under the leases
and other agreements with the Company, and their existing credit agreements, (d)
the Company's success in implementing its business strategy, (e) the nature and
extent of future competition, (f) the extent of future health care reform and
regulation, including cost containment measures and changes in reimbursement
policies and procedures, (g) increases in the cost of borrowing for the Company,
(h) the ability of the Company's operators to deliver high quality care and to
attract patients, (i) the results of litigation affecting the Company, (j) the
results of the settlement discussions Vencor and the Company have been engaged
in with the federal government seeking to resolve federal civil and
administrative claims against them arising from the participation of Vencor
facilities in various federal health benefit programs, (k) changes in general
economic conditions and/or economic conditions in the markets in which the
Company may, from time to time, compete,(l) the ability of the Company to pay
down, refinance, restructure, and/or extend its indebtedness as it becomes due,
(m) the ability and willingness of the Company to maintain its qualification as
a real estate investment trust due to economic, market, legal, tax or other
considerations, and (n) final determination of the Company's taxable net income
for 2000. Many of such factors are beyond the control of the Company and its
management