1
                                                                   Exhibit 23.1


The Partners
American Retirement Communities, L.P.:

The audits of American Retirement Communities, L.P. referred to in our report
dated January 22, 1997, included the related financial statement schedule for
the year ended December 31, 1994, the three months ended March 31, 1995, the
nine months ended December 31, 1995, and the year ended December 31, 1996, 
included in the registration statement. The financial statement schedule is the
responsibility of the Partnership's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the financial statement schedule based on our audits. In
our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to
the basic combined and consolidated financial statements taken as a whole,
present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. Our
report dated January 22, 1997 contains an explanatory paragraph which refers to
a change in cost basis as a result of a purchase business combination.

We consent to the use of our reports included herein on (1) American Retirement
Communities L.P. and (2) Carriage Club of Charlotte, Limited Partnership and
Carriage Club of Jacksonville, Limited Partnership and to the reference to our
firm under the headings "Selected Combined and Consolidated Financial Data" and
"Experts" in the prospectus.


                                         KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



Nashville, Tennessee
May 12, 1997