Exhibit 32.2

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 Quarterly Report of American Retirement Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2005 (the “Report”), I, Bryan D. Richardson, Executive Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, 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 Company.

/s/ Bryan D. Richardson

------------------------------------------------

Bryan D. Richardson

Executive Vice President - Finance and

Chief Financial Officer

November 4, 2005