EXHIBIT 99.1


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of the American Retirement Corporation
401(k) Retirement Plan (the "Plan") on Form 11-K for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June
27, 2003 (the "Report"), I, W.E. Sheriff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of American Retirement Corporation, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d)
     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Plan.

/s/ W.E. Sheriff
-------------------------------------
W.E. Sheriff
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
June 27, 2003

A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906 HAS BEEN
PROVIDED TO AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND WILL BE RETAINED BY AMERICAN
RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND FURNISHED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
OR ITS STAFF UPON REQUEST.




                                       13