<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AT MARCH 31, 2000 AND THE RELATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2000, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>   0001043236
<NAME>  ELDER TRUST
<MULTIPLIER>   1000
<CURRENCY>     U.S.

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                               2,677
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       50,407
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     5,568
<PP&E>                                             181,900
<DEPRECIATION>                                      11,629
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     263,734
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                3,439
<BONDS>                                             20,076
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                71
<OTHER-SE>                                         101,749
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       263,734
<SALES>                                              7,004
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     7,004
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        1,748
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       706
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   3,387
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        516
<INCOME-TAX>                                             0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    516
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                           516
<EPS-BASIC>                                           0.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.07