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                                                                      EXHIBIT 99



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


ASSISTED LIVING CONCEPTS, INC. MAKES INTEREST PAYMENT ON DEBENTURES; ENTERS
CONFIDENTIALITY AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT WITH CERTAIN DEBENTURE HOLDERS


PORTLAND, OR, MAY 24, 2001 -- Assisted Living Concepts, Inc. (AMEX: ALF), a
national provider of assisted living services ("ALC" or the "Company"),
announced today that it has paid $4.7 million of interest due May 1, 2001 on its
two series of convertible subordinated debentures (collectively, the
"Debentures"). The Company had deferred this interest payment, and the holders
of the Debentures would have had the right to declare a default and accelerate
the full repayment of the Debentures, which in turn would have caused a breach
of certain of the Company's other material obligations, had the Company failed
to make this payment by May 31, 2001. The Company made the interest payment
primarily in reliance upon representations by an unofficial committee of certain
Debenture holders (the "Committee") that, after receipt of the interest payment,
the Committee members would negotiate in good faith in an attempt to arrive at a
mutually agreeable restructuring of the Debenture debt.

The Company also has entered into a confidentiality agreement and agreement to
restrict trading of securities (the "Confidentiality Agreement") with the
Committee, the holders of 64% of the outstanding principal amount of the
Debentures. A total of approximately $162 million aggregate principal amount of
Debentures is outstanding, with maturities of November 1, 2002 and May 1, 2003.
The Company believes that the Confidentiality Agreement will facilitate
negotiations with the Debenture holders concerning a restructuring of the
Debentures.

If the Company reaches an agreement with Debenture holders, it is anticipated
that the restructuring would be implemented through a "prenegotiated" plan of
reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

The Company drew $3 million under its line of credit with Heller Healthcare
Finance, Inc. ("Heller") to fund a portion of the interest payment to the
Debenture holders. The Company is continuing its negotiations with Heller to
modify its line of credit.

This press release and statements made by or on behalf of Assisted Living
Concepts relating hereto may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be affected by risks
and uncertainties, including: the willingness of the members of the holders of a
sufficient amount of the Debentures to agree to any such restructuring of the
Debentures; prevailing and perceived economic conditions, both in general and
with respect to the assisted living industry; factors that could affect the
Company's performance, such as competition or regulatory restrictions; and other
risks described in the Company's filings with

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the Securities and Exchange Commission. The inability of the Company to
restructure its obligations (or any significant delay in effecting such
restructuring) could have a material adverse affect upon the Company. The
Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to
any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events and
circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Wm. James Nicol, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(503) 252-6233

Drew Q. Miller, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(503) 408-5293