Exhibit 1
 
                               5,750,000 Shares

                            ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.

                                 Common Stock

                               ($.10 Par Value)


                            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. 333-06907) 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, if any, 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
     corporate 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 the
     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 corporate 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 except for jurisdictions where
     failure to so qualify, 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 as a whole. The outstanding shares

                                       2

 
     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 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 general partnership and each limited partnership of which a
     Corporate Subsidiary is general partner, as listed in Exhibit 21 to Item
     16(a) of the Registration Statement (collectively, the "Partnerships," and
     together with the Corporate Subsidiaries, the "Subsidiaries") has been duly
     organized and is an existing general partnership or limited partnership, as
     the case may be, 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 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 Partnerships have been made to the Partnerships. To
     the knowledge of the Company, all outstanding limited partnership interests
     in the 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 partnership agreement pursuant to which the Company or
     a Subsidiary holds an interest in a 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 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
                                       3

 
     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.

          (e)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, and with respect to any
     Limited Partnership, as contained in the applicable partnership agreement,
     there are no outstanding warrants, options, 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 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 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) except as contained in certain long-term
     agreements, 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 combined 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

                                       4

 
     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
     therein, and all adjustments necessary 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.

          (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 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,

                                       5

 
     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, 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 material
     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 health care
     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 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,

                                       6

 
     revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material
     impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, subject 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 or 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 amended, including the regulations and published
     interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"); no "reportable event" (as defined in
     ERISA) (including, but not limited to, the filing of Form 5500s for prior
     periods, if required) has occurred with respect to any "pension plan"

                                       7

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

                                       8

 
          (y)  The Company has filed a registration statement pursuant to
     Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, to register the Common Stock, has filed
     an application to list the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market System, and
     has received notification that the listing has been approved, subject to
     official notice of issuance.

          (z)  To the best of the Company's knowledge, no officer, director or
     security holder of the Company has an "association" or "affiliation" with
     any member of the NASD, within the meaning of Article III, Section 44 of
     the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD. The Company does not have an
     "association" or "affiliation" with any member of the NASD, within the
     meaning of Article III, Section 44 of the Rules of Fair Practice of the
     NASD.
 
 
     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 by
     wire transfer of immediately available funds 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, date,
     and location 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,

                                       9

 
     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
     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 deem 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

                                      10

 
     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 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. In addition, the Company agrees to
     comply with (i) the undertakings set forth in its "Application for
     Exemption Under Sections 352-g(2) and 359-f(2) of the New York general
     Business Law for a Real Estate Syndication Offering Registered with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission Under the Federal Securities Act of
     1933," dated March ___, 1996, as amended to date and as may be amended
     hereafter, and (ii) any applicable provisions of Section 352-e of the New
     York General Business Law or the rules and regulations promulgated
     thereunder.

          (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

                                       11

 
     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 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 earnings 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 or combined 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, pursuant to employee benefit plans, in connection
     with the acquisition of property or assets [for up to ______ shares], or
     with the prior written consent of Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated.

                                       12

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

          (j)  The Company has caused each officer and director of the Company
     and Vencor, Inc. 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 (the "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 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
     
                                       13

 
     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 or in connection with the
     qualification or exemption of the Shares under the laws of any Canadian
     province. 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 regulations 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 is 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
     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.

                                       14

 
          (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 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 material 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 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 Partnerships is a validly existing
          partnership 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 and is
          in good standing 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 material
          adverse effect upon the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries
          taken as a whole; the partnership interests in the Partnerships held
          directly or indirectly by the Company are, to such counsel's
          knowledge, 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 partnership agreement; each 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,

                                       15

 
          insolvency or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
          generally. To such counsel's knowledge, 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.

               (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 Partnership, as contained in
          the applicable 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
                                       
                                      16

 
          with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending or threatened
          under the Act.

               (vii)  The Registration Statement (including any Registration
          Statement filed under Rule 462(b) of the Act, if any), 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 combined financial statements and related
          schedules).

               (viii) The statements under the captions "Risk Factors --
          Relationship with Vencor; Conflicts of Interest," "--risks of
          Indebtedness -- Bond Financing," "The Company and its Predecessors,"
          "Business -- Funding for Assisted and Independent Care," "--Government
          Regulation," "Management," "Certain Transactions," and "Description of
          Capital Stock" 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 required, and such contracts and
          documents as are summarized in the Registration Statement or the
          Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material respects.

               (x)   Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in
         violation of its certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws, or
         other organizational documents or, to the knowledge of such counsel,
         (a) 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, or (b) in material breach
         of any applicable statute, rule or regulation or any order, writ or
         decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
         over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or their respective
         property.

               (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 (a) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
          provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Charter or articles
          or by-laws of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, (b) 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

                                       17

 
          Company or any of the Subsidiaries may be bound, or (c) violate or
          conflict with any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order,
          writ or decree of any court or governmental agency or body having
          jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective
          properties.

               (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 will, upon consummation of the Contribution Transaction,
          have all necessary Permits (except where the failure to have such
          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 health care 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, and no event has occurred (or will occur as a result of
          the Contribution Transaction, as such term is defined in the
          Prospectus) 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,
          subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the
          Prospectus; and, except as described in the

                                       18

 
          Prospectus, such permits contain no restrictions that are materially
          burdensome to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

               (xviii) The Contribution Transaction (as such term is defined in
          the Prospectus) and each of the documents and agreements executed and
          delivered by the Company, the Subsidiaries and Vencor, Inc. have been
          duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; 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 the
          documents and agreements executed and delivered in connection with the
          Contribution Transaction, except such as have been obtained or made,
          specifying the same.

          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 licensed to practice 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 rendering such opinion, such counsel
     may also rely, as to matters of fact, on certificates of officers of the
     Company and of governmental officials, in which case their opinion shall
     state that they are so doing. 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 on the Closing Date or
     the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Jill L. Force,
     Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of Vencor, Inc., 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: to such counsel's knowledge, the Company
     and each of the Subsidiaries will, upon consummation of the Contribution
     Transaction, have all necessary Permits (except where the failure to have
     such 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

                                       19

 
     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 health care 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, and no event has
     occurred (or will occur as a result of the Contribution Transaction, as
     such term is defined in the Prospectus) 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, subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in
     the Prospectus; and, except as described in the Prospectus, such permits
     contain no restrictions that are materially burdensome to the Company or
     any of the Subsidiaries.

          (d)  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 Federal laws on the opinion of Greenebaum Doll &
     McDonald PLLC or 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 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.

          (e)  The Representatives shall have received at or prior to the
     Closing Date 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.

          (f)  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
                             
                                      20

 
     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.

          (g)  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
          Registration 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;

               (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

                                      21

 
          prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
          whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

          (h)  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.

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

          (j)  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).

     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

                                      22

 
     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 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

                                      23

 
     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 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

                                      24

 
     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 (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

                                      25

 
     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 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

                                      26

 
     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 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

                                      27

 
     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.

     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.

                                      28

 
     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

                                      29

 
                                  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                                            __________

                                      30