Exhibit 1

                                5,750,000 Shares

                            ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.

                                  Common Stock

                                ($.10 Par Value)


                        FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                        ------------------------------


                                                                __________, 1996



Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated
Morgan Stanley Co. Incorporated
J.C. Bradford & Co.
As Representatives of the
   Several Underwriters
c/o  Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated
135 East Baltimore Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Gentlemen:

     Atria Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes
to sell to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in Schedule I
hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the "Representatives") an
aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.10 par value (the
"Firm Shares"). The respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be so purchased by
the several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I
hereto. The Company also proposes to sell at the Underwriters' option an
aggregate of up to 750,000 additional shares of the Company's Common Stock (the
"Option Shares") as set forth below.

     As the Representatives, you have advised the Company (a) that you are
authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the several Underwriters,
and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not
jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Shares
if you elect to exercise the over-allotment option in whole or in part for the
accounts of the several Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to
the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively
called the "Shares."

 
     In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

     1.   Representations and Warranties of the Company.
          --------------------------------------------- 

     The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:

          (a)  A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-______) with
     respect to the Shares has been carefully prepared by the Company in
     conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
     (the "Act"), and the Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of
     the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and
     has been filed with the Commission.  Copies of such registration statement,
     including any amendments thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the
     requirements of the Rules and Regulations) contained therein and the
     exhibits, financial statements and schedules, as finally amended and
     revised, have heretofore been delivered by the Company to you.  Such
     registration statement, together with any registration statement filed by
     the Company pursuant to Rule 462 (b) of the Act, herein referred to as the
     "Registration Statement," which shall be deemed to include all information
     omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the
     Prospectus referred to below, has become effective under the Act and no
     post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of
     the date of this Agreement.  "Prospectus" means (a) the  form of prospectus
     first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (b) the last
     preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed prior
     to the time it becomes effective or filed pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the
     Act that is delivered by the Company to the Underwriters for delivery to
     purchasers of the Shares, together with the term sheet or abbreviated term
     sheet filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) under the Act.
     Each preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to
     the time it becomes effective is herein referred to as a "Preliminary
     Prospectus."

          (b)  The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
     corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct
     its business as described in the Registration Statement.  Each of the
     subsidiaries of the Company as listed in Exhibit 21 to Item 16(a) of the
     Registration Statement (collectively, the "Corporate Subsidiaries") has
     been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
     standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with
     corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct
     its business as described in the Registration Statement. The Corporate
     Subsidiaries are the only subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of the Company.
     The Company and each of the Corporate Subsidiaries are duly qualified to
     transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their
     business requires such qualification.  The outstanding shares of capital
     stock of each of the Corporate Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and
     validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the
     Company or another Corporate Subsidiary free and clear of all liens,
     encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other

                                       2

 
     rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other
     rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership
     interests in the Corporate Subsidiaries are outstanding.

          (c) Each of the limited partnerships of which a Corporate Subsidiary
     is general partner, as listed in Exhibit 21 to Item 16(a) of the
     Registration Statement (collectively, the "Limited Partnerships," and
     together with the Corporate Subsidiaries, the "Subsidiaries") has been duly
     organized and is an existing limited partnership in good standing under the
     laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with the power and authority
     to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the
     Registration Statement.  Each of the Limited Partnerships is duly qualified
     to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
     business requires such qualification; except for jurisdictions in which the
     failure to so qualify, together with all such other failures, would not
     have a material adverse effect upon the business, properties, assets,
     rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
     Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole.  The capital contributions
     with respect to the outstanding units of each of the Limited Partnerships
     have been made to the Limited Partnerships.  All outstanding limited
     partnership interests in the Limited Partnerships were issued and sold in
     compliance with all applicable Federal and state securities laws.  The
     general and limited partnership interests therein held directly or
     indirectly by the Company are owned free and clear of all liens,
     encumbrances and equities and claims, except (i) for encumbrances disclosed
     in the Prospectus, and (ii) for encumbrances relating to any indebtedness
     disclosed in the Prospectus.  To the knowledge of the Company, each limited
     partnership agreement pursuant to which the Company or a Subsidiary holds
     an interest in a Limited Partnership is in full force and effect and
     constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the parties thereto,
     enforceable against such parties in accordance with the terms thereof.
     There has been no material breach of or default under, and no event which
     with notice or lapse of time would constitute a material breach of or
     default under, such agreements by the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the
     Company's knowledge, any other party to such agreements.  Except to the
     extent disclosed in the Prospectus, each of the assisted and independent
     living facilities, and each of the properties held for development,
     described in the Prospectus as owned by the Company is owned and operated
     either by a Corporate Subsidiary or by a Limited Partnership in which a
     Corporate Subsidiary owns at least 50% of the outstanding partnership
     interests.

          (d)  The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have been
     duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
     the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized
     and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued,
     fully paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders
     exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.
     Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale
     of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights,
     other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to
     the registration of any shares of Common Stock.

                                       3

 
          (e)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, and with respect to any
     Limited Partnership, as contained in the applicable limited partnership
     agreement, there are no outstanding warrants, option, convertible
     securities or other commitments of sale related to or entitling any person
     to purchase or otherwise acquire any securities or interest in any
     Subsidiary. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and, with respect to any
     Limited Partnership, as contained in the applicable limited partnership
     agreement, there are no consensual encumbrances or restrictions on the
     ability of any Subsidiary (i) to pay any dividends or make any
     distributions on such Corporate Subsidiary's capital stock or such Limited
     Partnership's partnership interests or to pay any indebtedness owed to the
     Company or any other Subsidiary, (ii) to make any loans or advances to, or
     investments in, the Company or any other Subsidiary, or (iii) to transfer
     any of its properties or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary.

          (f)  The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in
     the Prospectus is true and correct. All of the Shares conform to the
     description thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The form of
     certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the
     jurisdiction of the Company's incorporation.

          (g)  The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending
     the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares
     nor instituted proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement
     contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will
     contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and
     will conform, to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
     The Registration Statement and any amendment thereto do not contain, and
     will not contain, any untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit,
     and will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein
     or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus
     and any amendments and supplements thereto do not contain, and will not
     contain, any untrue statement of material fact; and do not omit, and will
     not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
     Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained
     in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
     such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
     written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any
     Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use in the
     preparation thereof.

          (h)  The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the
     Registration Statement, present fairly the financial position and the
     results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the consolidated
     Subsidiaries, at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such
     financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance
     with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently applied
     throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed herein, and all
     adjustments necessary 

                                       4

 
     for a fair presentation of results for such periods have been made. The
     summary financial and statistical data included in the Registration
     Statement presents fairly the information shown therein and such data has
     been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented
     therein and the books and records of the company. The pro forma financial
     statements and other pro forma financial information included in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information
     shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules
     and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements, have been
     properly compiled on the pro forma bases described therein, and, in the
     opinion of the Company, the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are
     reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect
     to the transactions or circumstances referred to therein.

          (i)  Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain of the financial
     statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement,
     are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and
     Regulations.

          (j)  There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the
     knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of the
     Subsidiaries before any court or administrative agency or otherwise which
     if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries might
     result in any material adverse change in the earnings, business,
     management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
     otherwise) or prospects of the Company and of the Subsidiaries taken as a
     whole or to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated
     hereby, except as set forth in the Registration Statement.

          (k)  The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title
     to all of the properties and assets reflected in the financial statements
     (or as described in the Registration Statement) hereinabove described,
     subject to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind
     except those reflected in such financial statements (or as described in the
     Registration Statement) or which are not material in amount. The Company
     and the Subsidiaries occupy their leased properties under valid and binding
     leases conforming in all material respects to the description thereof set
     forth in the Registration Statement.

          (l)  The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, State,
     local and foreign income tax returns which have been required to be filed
     and have paid all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments
     received by them or any of them to the extent that such taxes have become
     due and are not being contested in good faith. All tax liabilities have
     been adequately provided for in the financial statements of the Company.

          (m)  Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
     the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, there has
     not been any material adverse change or any development involving a
     prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business,
     management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
     otherwise), or prospects of the Company and its 

                                       5

 
     Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary
     course of business, and there has not been any material transaction entered
     into or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by
     the Company or the Subsidiaries, other than transactions in the ordinary
     course of business and changes and transactions described in the
     Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented. The Company
     and the Subsidiaries have no material contingent obligations which are not
     disclosed in the Company's financial statements which are included in the
     Registration Statement.

          (n)  Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or with the
     giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will be, in violation of or in
     default under its Charter or By-Laws, limited partnership agreement or
     under any agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or
     obligation to which it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties,
     is bound and which default is of material significance in respect of the
     condition, financial or otherwise of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
     as a whole or the business, management, properties, assets, rights,
     operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company
     and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The execution and delivery of this
     Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and
     the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a
     breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
     any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to
     which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or of the Charter or by-
     laws of the Company or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the
     Company or any Subsidiary of any court or of any regulatory body or
     administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction.

          (o)  Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
     declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
     governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery
     by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
     herein contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the
     Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
     "NASD") or such additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares
     for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky
     laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect.

          (p)  The Company and each of the Subsidiaries holds all material
     licenses, certificates, permits and other approvals from governmental
     authorities (collectively, "Permits") which are necessary to own their
     properties and to conduct their businesses, including, without limitation,
     such Permits as are required (i) under such federal and state healthcare
     laws as are applicable to the Company and the Subsidiaries and (ii) with
     respect to those facilities operated by the Company or any Subsidiary that
     participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid, to receive reimbursement
     thereunder, except where such failure to have or hold such Permits,
     together with all other such failures, would not have a material adverse
     effect upon the business, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition
     (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries
     taken 

                                       6

 
     as a whole; the Company and each of the Subsidiaries have fulfilled and
     performed all of their material obligations with respect to such Permits,
     and no event or change in condition has occurred which allows, or after
     notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or
     results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any
     such Permit, such in each case to such qualifications as may be set forth
     in the Prospectus. During the period for which financial statements are
     included in the Prospectus, denials by third party payers of claims for
     reimbursement for services rendered by the Company have not had a material
     adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, prospects,
     properties, net worth or results of operations of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and any such denials are either under appeal
     or the Company has ceased seeking reimbursement for the services of
     supplies to which they relate.

          (q)  Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has infringed any
     patents, patent rights, trade names, trademarks or copyrights, which
     infringement is material to the business of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company knows of no material
     infringement by others of patents, patent rights, trade names, trademarks
     or copyrights owned by or licensed to the Company.

          (r)  Neither the Company, nor to the Company's best knowledge, any of
     its affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action
     designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might
     reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of
     the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of
     the Shares.

          (s)  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is an "investment company"
     within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940
     and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

          (t)  The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
     sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are
     executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization;
     (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
     financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
     principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to
     assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or
     specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
     compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
     action is taken with respect to any differences.

          (u) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by,
     insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the
     conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective
     properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar industries.

          (v)  The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all
     presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security
     Act of 1974, as 

                                       7

 
     amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
     ("ERISA"); no "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with
     respect to any "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company
     would have any liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect
     to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination
     of, or withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations
     and published interpretations thereunder (the "Code"); and each "pension
     plan" for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be
     qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material
     respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act,
     which would cause the loss of such qualification.

          (w)  The property, assets and operations of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries comply in all material respects with all applicable federal,
     state or local law, common law, doctrine, rule, order, decree, judgment,
     injunction, license, permit or regulation relating to environmental matters
     (the "Environmental Laws"), except to the extent that failure to comply
     with such Environmental Laws would not have a material adverse effect on
     the condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties, net
     worth or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as
     a whole. None of the property, assets or operations of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries is the subject of any federal, state or local investigation
     evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to respond to a release
     into the environment of any substance regulated by, or form the basis of
     liability under, any Environmental Laws (a "Hazardous Material"), or is in
     contravention of any Environmental Law that would have a material adverse
     effect on the condition (financial or other), business, prospects,
     properties, net worth or results of operations of the Company and
     Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has
     received any notice or claim, nor are there pending, reasonably anticipated
     or, or to the Company's knowledge, threatened lawsuits against them with
     respect to violations of an Environmental Law or in connection with the
     release of any Hazardous Material into the environment, in each case which,
     individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on
     the condition (financial or other), business, properties, prospects, net
     worth or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as
     a whole. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any material contingent
     liability in connection with any release of Hazardous Material into the
     environment.

          (x)  The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in
     compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-
     198, An Act Relating to Disclosure of doing Business with Cuba, and the
     Company further agrees that if it commences engaging in business with the
     government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba after
     the date the Registration Statement becomes or has become effective with
     the Commission or with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the
     "Department"), whichever date is later, or if the information reported or
     incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, if any, concerning the
     Company's business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in
     Cuba changes in any material way, the Company 

                                       8

 
     will provide the Department notice of such business or change, as
     appropriate, in a form acceptable to the Department.

     2.   Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Firm Shares.
          ---------------------------------------------- 

     (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein
contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees
and the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase, at a price of $_____ per share, the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof, subject to
adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

     (b) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made in New
York Clearing House funds by certified or bank cashier's checks drawn to the
order of the Company for the shares to be sold by it and to the order of the
Company against delivery of certificates therefor to the Representatives for the
several accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery are to be made
at the offices of Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated, 135 East Baltimore Street,
Baltimore, Maryland, at 10:00 a.m., Baltimore time, on the third business day
after the date of this Agreement or at such other time and date not later than
five business days thereafter as you and the Company shall agree upon, such time
and date being herein referred to as the "Closing Date." (As used herein,
"business day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading and on which banks in New York are open for business and not permitted
by law or executive order to be closed.) The certificates for the Firm Shares
will be delivered in such denominations and in such registrations as the
Representatives request in writing not later than the second full business day
prior to the Closing Date, and will be made available for inspection by the
Representatives at least one business day prior to the Closing Date.

     (c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase the Option
Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first paragraph of this
Section 2. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or in part by
giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and (ii) only once
thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, by you, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Company setting forth the
number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the
option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be
registered and the time and date at which such certificates are to be delivered.
The time and date at which certificates for Option Shares are to be delivered
shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier than three
nor later than 10 full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in
any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to
as the "Option Closing Date"). If the date of exercise of the option is three or
more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the

                                       9

 
Closing Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of Option Shares to be
purchased by each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to the total
number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares being
purchased by such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares, adjusted
by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares. The option with respect to
the Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only to cover over-
allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters. You, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at any time
prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the
Company. To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the
Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date in New York Clearing
House funds by certified or bank cashier's check drawn to the order of the
Company against delivery of certificates therefor at the offices of Alex. Brown
& Sons Incorporated, 135 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland.

     3.   Offering by the Underwriters.
          ---------------------------- 

     It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public
offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deems it advisable to
do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the initial
public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The Representatives may from
time to time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling
terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares are purchased pursuant
to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to the public on the
foregoing terms.

     It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for the
Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with a Master
Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other
Underwriters.

     4.   Covenants of the Company.
          ------------------------ 

     The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:

          (a) The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the
     Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule
     430A of the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file
     with the Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a
     Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives containing information
     previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, (B) not
     file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
     Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been
     advised and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall
     have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the
     Rules and Regulations.

          (b) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (A) when the
     Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have
     become 

                                       10

 
     effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any
     request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or
     for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (D)
     of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or
     of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The Company will
     use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
     preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as
     possible the lifting thereof, if issued.

          (c)  The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in
     endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of
     such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in
     writing and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish
     such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided
     the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
     file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it
     is not now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company
     will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and
     other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications
     in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably
     request for distribution of the Shares.

          (d)  The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
     Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary
     Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will
     deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives during the period
     when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of
     the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as
     the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the
     Representatives at or before the Closing Date, four signed copies of the
     Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all exhibits
     filed therewith, and will deliver to the Representatives such number of
     copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of copies of
     the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested), and of all
     amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request.

          (e)  The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and
     Regulations, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"),
     and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit
     the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
     Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
     required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event
     shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the
     reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or
     supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered
     to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend
     or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly
     will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the
     Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the
     Prospectus as so 

                                       11

 
     amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it
     is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with
     the law.

          (f)  The Company will make generally available to its security
     holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later
     than 15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an
     earnings statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail,
     covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the
     effective date of the Registration Statement, which earning statement shall
     satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the
     Rules and Regulations and will advise you in writing when such statement
     has been so made available.

          (g)  The Company will, for a period of five years from the Closing
     Date, deliver to the Representatives copies of annual reports and copies of
     all other documents, reports and information furnished by the Company to
     its stockholders or filed with any securities exchange pursuant to the
     requirements of such exchange or with the Commission pursuant to the Act or
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company will deliver
     to the Representatives similar reports with respect to significant
     subsidiaries, as that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations, which
     are not consolidated in the Company's financial statements.

          (h)  No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any shares
     of Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into or
     exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of
     Common Stock (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 180 days
     after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company
     otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of Alex. Brown &
     Sons Incorporated.

          (i)  The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice
     of issuance, the Shares on the The NASDAQ National Market System.

          (j)  The Company has caused each officer and director and specific
     shareholders of the Company to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of
     this agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to
     the Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to
     offer, sell, sell short or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock
     of the Company or other capital stock of the Company, or any other
     securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Shares or
     derivative of Common Shares owned by such person or request the
     registration for the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which
     such person has the right to direct the disposition of) for a period of 180
     days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except with
     the prior written consent of Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated ("Lockup
     Agreements").

          (k)  The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the
     Shares as set forth in the Prospectus and shall file such reports with the
     Commission with respect to the sale 

                                       12

 
     of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be
     required in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act.

          (l)  The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds
     received by the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as
     would require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an
     investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
     (the "1940 Act").

          (m)  The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary
     under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the
     Common Stock.

          (n)  The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
     designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably
     be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price
     of any securities of the Company.

     5.   Costs and Expenses.
          ------------------ 

     The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: accounting fees
of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; the cost
of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of
the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this
Agreement, the Underwriters' Selling Memorandum, the Underwriters' Invitation
Letter, the Listing Application, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or
amendments thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees and
expenses (including legal fees and disbursements) incident to securing any
required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD") of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the Listing Fee of the 
NASDAQ Stock Market; and the expenses, including the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the qualification of
the Shares under State securities or Blue Sky laws. The Company agrees to pay
all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Underwriters, incident to the offer and sale of directed
shares of the Common Stock by the Underwriters to employees and persons having
business relationships with the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters expenses (other
than those related to qualification under NASD regulation and State securities
or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated
because the conditions in Section 6 hereof are not satisfied, or because this
Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or
by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to
perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply
with any of the terms hereof on its part to be performed, unless such failure to
satisfy said condition or to comply with said terms be due to the default or
omission of any Underwriter, then the Company shall reimburse the several
Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and
disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating,
marketing and proposing to 

                                       13

 
market the Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder;
but the Company shall not in any event be liable to any of the several
Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale
by them of the Shares.

     6.   Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters.
          --------------------------------------------- 

     The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares on
the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing Date are
subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein, and to the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

          (a)  The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
     thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by
     Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made,
     and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be
     included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been
     disclosed to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable
     satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been
     issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to the
     knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated by the Commission and no
     injunction, restraining order, or order of any nature by a Federal or state
     court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing
     Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares.

          (b)  The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or
     the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinions of Greenebaum
     Doll & McDonald, PLLC, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date or
     the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters
     (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the Underwriters) to
     the effect that:

               (i)  The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing
          as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
          Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its
          properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
          Statement; each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is
          validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
          the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and
          authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as
          described in the Registration Statement; the Company and each of the
          Subsidiaries are duly qualified to transact business in all
          jurisdictions in which the conduct of their business requires such
          qualification, or in which the failure to qualify would have a
          materially adverse effect upon the business of the Company and the
          Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and the outstanding shares of capital
          stock of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and
          validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by
          the Company or a Subsidiary; and, to the best of 

                                       14

 
          such counsel's knowledge, the outstanding shares of capital stock of
          each of the Subsidiaries is owned free and clear of all liens,
          encumbrances and equities and claims, and no options, warrants or
          other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or
          other rights to convert any obligations into any shares of capital
          stock or of ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.

               (ii) Each of the Limited Partnerships has been duly organized and
          is an existing limited partnership in good standing under the laws of
          the jurisdiction of its organization, with the power and authority to
          own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
          described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and is duly
          qualified to conduct its business; each of the Limited Partnerships is
          in good standing as a foreign limited partnership in each jurisdiction
          in which the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business
          requires such qualification, except where the failure so to qualify
          does not have a  materially adverse effect upon the business of the
          Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole; the limited partnership
          interests in the Limited Partnerships held directly or indirectly by
          the Company are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities
          and claims, except (a) for those encumbrances disclosed in the
          Prospectus, (b) for encumbrances relating to indebtedness disclosed in
          the Registration Statement or Prospectus and (c) to the extent
          provided in the applicable limited partnership agreement; each limited
          partnership agreement pursuant to which the Company or a Subsidiary
          holds a general partnership interest in a Limited Partnership is in
          full force and effect and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
          agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in
          accordance with the terms thereof, except as enforcement thereof may
          be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency or
          other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally. There has
          been no material breach of or default under, and no event which with
          notice or lapse of time would constitute a material breach of or
          default under, such agreements by the Company or any Subsidiary or any
          other party to such agreements.

               (iii)  The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock
          as set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; the
          authorized shares of the Company's Common Stock have been duly
          authorized; the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock have
          been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-
          assessable; all of the Shares conform to the description thereof
          contained in the Prospectus; the certificates for the Shares, assuming
          they are in the form filed with the Commission, are in due and proper
          form; the shares of Common Stock, including the Option Shares, if any,
          to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement have been duly
          authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
          when issued and paid for as contemplated by this Agreement; and no
          preemptive rights of stockholders exist with respect to any of the
          Shares or the issue or sale thereof.

                                       15

 
               (iv)  Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus,
          to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding securities
          of the Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the
          right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the
          Company and there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants
          or rights of any character obligating the Company to issue any shares
          of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable
          into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares
          of such stock; and except as described in the Prospectus, to the
          knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the Company
          or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has
          not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell
          or otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the sale
          of, any of the Shares or the right to have any Common Shares or other
          securities of the Company included in the Registration Statement or
          the right, as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement, to
          require registration under the Act of any shares of Common Stock or
          other securities of the Company.

               (v)  Except (a) as described in or contemplated by the
          Prospectus, and (b) with respect to any Limited Partnership, as
          contained in the applicable limited partnership agreement, to such
          counsel's knowledge, there are no outstanding subscriptions, rights,
          warrants, options, calls, convertible securities or commitments of
          sale related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise
          acquire any shares of capital stock, or partnership or other ownership
          interest in, any Subsidiary.

               (vi)  The Registration Statement has become effective under the
          Act and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
          proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending
          or threatened under the Act.

               (vii)  The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each
          amendment or supplement thereto comply as to form in all material
          respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and
          regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need express no
          opinion as to the financial statements and related schedules).

               (viii)  The statements under the captions in the Prospectus,
          insofar as such statements constitute a summary of documents referred
          to therein or matters of law, fairly summarize in all material
          respects the information called for with respect to such documents and
          matters.

               (ix)  Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents
          required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or
          described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are
          not so filed or described as 

                                       16

 
          required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the
          Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all
          material respects.

               (x)  Such counsel is not aware that the Company nor any of the
          Subsidiaries is in violation of its certificate or articles of
          incorporation or bylaws, or other organizational documents or is in
          default in the performance of any material obligation, agreement or
          condition contained in any evidence of indebtedness, except as may be
          contained in the Prospectus.

               (xi)  Such counsel knows of no material legal or governmental
          proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of the
          Subsidiaries except as set forth in the Prospectus.

               (xii)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
          consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will
          not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
          provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Charter or by-laws
          of the Company, or any agreement or instrument known to such counsel
          to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which
          the Company or any of the Subsidiaries may be bound.

               (xiii)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company.

               (xiv)  No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
          declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or
          other governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution
          and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
          transactions herein contemplated (other than as may be required by the
          NASD or as required by State securities and Blue Sky laws as to which
          such counsel need express no opinion) except such as have been
          obtained or made, specifying the same.

               (xv)  The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and
          application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the
          Prospectus, required to register as an investment company under the
          1940 Act.

               (xvi)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, such counsel is not
          aware of any holder of any security of the Company or any other person
          who has the right, contractual or otherwise, to have any securities of
          the Company included in the Registration Statement, except for any
          such rights as shall have been waived.

               (xvii)  To such counsel's knowledge, the Company and each of the
          Subsidiaries have all necessary Permits (except where the failure to
          have such 

                                       17

 
          Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material
          adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of
          the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole), to own their
          respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as
          now being conducted, and as described in the Registration Statement
          and Prospectus, including, without limitation, such Permits as are
          required (a) under such federal and state healthcare laws as are
          applicable to the Company and the Subsidiaries and (y) with respect to
          those facilities owned or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary
          that participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid, to receive reimbursement
          thereunder.

          In rendering such opinion Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, PLLC may rely as
     to matters governed by the laws of states other than Kentucky and Delaware
     or Federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions, provided that in
     each case Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, PLLC shall state that they believe
     that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying on such other
     counsel. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall
     also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the
     attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that (i) the
     Registration Statement, at the time it became effective under the Act (but
     after giving effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to
     Rule 430A under the Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing
     Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact
     or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the
     Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to
     the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing
     Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact
     or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
     statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made,
     not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to
     financial statements, schedules and statistical information therein). With
     respect to such statement, Greenebaum Doll & McDonald, PLLC may state that
     their belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without
     independent check and verification.

          (c)  The Representatives shall have received from Alston & Bird,
     counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date or the
     Option Closing Date, as the case may be, substantially to the effect
     specified in subparagraphs (iii), (iv), (v), (xii) and (xiv) of Paragraph
     (b) of this Section 6, and that the Company is a duly organized and validly
     existing corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware. In rendering
     such opinion may rely as to all matters governed other than by the laws of
     the States of Georgia or Kentucky or Federal laws on the opinion of counsel
     referred to in Paragraph (b) of this Section 6. In addition to the matters
     set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect
     that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to
     believe that (i) the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, as
     of the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving effect to
     any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act)
     as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
     contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the

                                       18

 
     statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any
     supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and
     Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the
     case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
     state a material fact, necessary in order to make the statements, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading
     (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements,
     schedules and statistical information therein). With respect to such
     statement, Alston & Bird may state that their belief is based upon the
     procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and
     verification.

          (d) The Representatives shall have received at or prior to the Closing
     Date from _______________ a memorandum or summary, in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Representatives, with respect to the qualification for
     offering and sale by the Underwriters of the Shares under the State
     securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives
     may reasonably have designated to the Company.

          (e) You shall have received, on each of the dates hereof, the Closing
     Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter dated the
     date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
     be, in form and substance satisfactory to you, of Ernst & Young, LLP
     confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning
     of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder
     and stating that in their opinion the financial statements and schedules
     examined by them and included in the Registration Statement comply in form
     in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
     Act and the related published Rules and Regulations; and containing such
     other statements and information as is ordinarily included in accountants'
     "comfort letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements
     and certain financial and statistical information contained in the
     Registration Statement and Prospectus.

          (f) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or the
     Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates of
     the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company
     to the effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
     the case may be, each of them severally represents as follows:

               (i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act
          and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registrations
          Statement has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have
          been taken or are, to his knowledge, contemplated by the Commission;

               (ii) The representations and warranties of the Company contained
          in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the
          Option Closing Date, as the case may be;

                                       19

 
               (iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules
          424 or 430A under the Act have been made;

               (iv) He or she has carefully examined the Registration Statement
          and the Prospectus and, in his or her opinion, as of the effective
          date of the Registration Statement, the statements contained in the
          Registration Statement were true and correct, and such Registration
          Statement and Prospectus did not omit to state a material fact
          required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
          statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the
          Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been
          set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which
          has not been so set forth in such supplement or amendment; and

               (v) Since the respective dates as of which information is given
          in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been any
          material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
          material adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or
          otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the
          earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights,
          operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
          Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising
          in the ordinary course of business.

          (g) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such
     further certificates and documents confirming the representations and
     warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters
     as the Representatives may reasonably have requested.

          (h) The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, have been approved for
     designation upon notice of issuance on the NASDAQ National Market System.

          (i) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4 (j) are in full force
     and effect.

          The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be
     deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in
     all material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Alston &
     Bird, counsel for the Underwriters.

          If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6
     shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be
     fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated
     by the Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in
     writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option
     Closing Date, as the case may be.

          In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any
     obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8
     hereof).

                                       20

 
     7.   Conditions of the Obligations of the Company.
          -------------------------------------------- 

     The obligations of the Company to sell and deliver the portion of the
Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are
subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings
therefor initiated or threatened.

     8.   Indemnification.
          --------------- 

     (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or
any such controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading; and will reimburse each Underwriter and
each such controlling person upon demand for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection
with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability,
action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry
related to the offering of the Shares, whether or not such Underwriter or
controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding; provided, however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in
the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such
amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives
specifically for use in the preparation thereof.  This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

     (b)  Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have
signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer, or controlling
person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances 

                                       21

 
under which they were made; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, or controlling
person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that each
Underwriter will be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the extent,
that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or through
the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter
may otherwise have.

     (c)  In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the "indemnified party") shall
promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"indemnifying party") in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section
8(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as
provided in this Section 8(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was
unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was
materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to
give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any
liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 8(a) or (b). In case any
such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and
shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the
fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event
(i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed
to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or
(iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ
counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time
after notice of commencement of the action. It is understood that the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Such
firm shall be designated in writing by you in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b).  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled
with such 

                                       22

 
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the
indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment
in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which
indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is
an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or
proceeding.

     (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect  not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The relative fault
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the
one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.

     The Company, and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8(d). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
subsection 

                                       23

 
(d), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of
the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by
such Underwriter, and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this Section 8(d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.

     (e)  In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto,
each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby
consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other
contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served
upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of
such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as
an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing
party is a party.

     (f)  Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred.  The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.  A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person
controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity,
contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8.

     9.   Default by Underwriters.
          ----------------------- 

     If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any
Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares which
such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than
by reason of any default on the part of the Company, you, as Representatives of
the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours
thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase
from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth
herein, the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase.  If during such 36
hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as
the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which
such default shall occur does not 

                                       24

 
exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered
hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to
the respective numbers of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of shares of
Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, with respect to which such
default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case
may be, covered hereby, the Company or you as the Representatives of the
Underwriters will have the right, by written notice given within the next 36-
hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement
without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the
Company except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a
default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 9, the
Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, may be postponed for
such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may determine
in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement or in the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any
action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter
from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this
Agreement.

     10.  Notices.
          ------- 

     All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as otherwise
provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or telegraphed and
confirmed as follows:  if to the Underwriters, to Alex. Brown & Sons
Incorporated, 135 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, Attention:
Mr. Steven Schuh; with a copy to Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated, 135 East
Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Attention: General Counsel; if to
the Company, to

               Atria Communities, Inc.
               515 West Market Street
               Louisville, Kentucky 40202
               Attn: W. Patrick Mulloy, II

     11.  Termination.
          -----------

     This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company as
follows:

          (a)  at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the time the Shares are
     released by you for sale by notice to the Underwriters, or (ii) 11:30 a.m.
     on the first business day following the date of this Agreement;

          (b)  at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has
     occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given
     in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any material adverse
     change or any development involving a 

                                       25

 
     prospective material adverse change in or affecting the condition,
     financial or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
     whole or the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights,
     operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company
     and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the
     ordinary course of business, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities
     or declaration of war or national emergency or other national or
     international calamity or crisis or change in economic or political
     conditions if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration,
     emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets of the
     United States would, in your reasonable judgment, make it impracticable to
     market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, or
     (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
     Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or limitation on prices (other than
     limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for securities on
     either such Exchange, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other
     promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or
     other governmental authority which in your opinion materially and adversely
     affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or operations
     of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking moratorium by United States or
     New York State authorities, (vi) any downgrading in the rating of the
     Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
     organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Exchange
     Act); (vii) the suspension of trading of the Company's common stock by the
     Commission on the NASDAQ Stock Market or (viii) the taking of any action by
     any governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal
     affairs which in your reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on
     the securities markets in the United States; or

          (c)  as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement.

     12.  Successors.
          ----------

     This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, executors,
administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and controlling
persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter
shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.

     13.  Information Provided by Underwriters.
          ------------------------------------
 
     The Company and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only
information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Company for
inclusion in any Prospectus or the Registration Statement consists of the
information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page (insofar as
such information relates to the Underwriters), legends required by Item 502(d)
of Regulation S-K under the Act and the information under the caption
"Underwriting" in the Prospectus.


                                       26

 
     14.  Miscellaneous.
          -------------

     The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements contained in
this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any
termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or
its directors or officers, and (c) delivery of and payment for the Shares under
this Agreement.

     This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.

     This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Maryland.

                                       27

 
     If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.



                                       By:
                                          -----------------------------------
                                                Chief Executive Officer



The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.

ALEX. BROWN & SONS INCORPORATED
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
J.C. BRADFORD & CO.


As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I

By:  Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated


By:
                  Authorized Officer

                                       28

 
                                  SCHEDULE I



                           Schedule of Underwriters



                                                         Number of Firm Shares
Underwriter                                                    to be Purchased
- -----------                                              ---------------------
Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
J.C. Bradford & Co.






                                                               ----------
          Total
                                                               ----------

                                       29