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