1
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1




                              ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
American Retirement Corporation:

We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

Our report refers to a change in the presentation of the cost basis of financial
information for periods subsequent to a purchase business combination effected
on April 1, 1995.


                                      /S/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP


Nashville, Tennessee
July 8, 1998