Exhibit 10.176

                             CONSULTING AGREEMENT

      THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") effective as of October 1,
1998, between Chancellor of Merrillville, Inc. (the "Company"), and CareMatrix
of Massachusetts, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Consultant").

      WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Consultant to perform certain
consulting services for the Company, and the Consultant desires to be retained
by the Company; and

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Consultant desire to set forth the terms and
conditions on which the Consultant shall be retained by and provide services to
the Company.

      NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:

      1. Consulting Services. During the term of this Agreement, the Consultant
shall provide consulting services and assistance in with respect to the sales
and marketing of the senior housing facilities owned and/or operated by the
Company.

      2. Consulting Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay to the Consultant a
consulting fee of Three Thousand ($3,000.00) Dollars for each new resident
admitted to the Facility up to the maximum occupancy of the building (the
"Consulting Fee"), payable 15 days in arrears after the quarter end.

      3. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall commence effective on
the date hereof (the "Effective Date") and continue for a period of twenty-four
(24) months, and shall be renewable upon ninety (90) days prior notice from the
Company to the Consultant for an additional twelve (12) month period at the
option of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either the Company or the
Consultant may terminate this Agreement at any time after the Effective Date for
any reason by providing thirty (30) days prior written notice of such intention
to terminate to the other party.

      4. Independent Contractor. The Consultant is and shall be an independent
contractor hereunder and the officers, directors and employees of the Consultant
are not and shall not be an employee of the Company by virtue of this Agreement.
Neither the Consultant nor the Company shall hold the Consultant out as an
agent, partner, officer, director, or other employee of the Company and the
Consultant further specifically disclaims any and all rights to an equity
interest in or a partnership interest with the Company. The Consultant
specifically acknowledges

<PAGE>

and agrees that this Agreement shall not give the Consultant authority to
execute any contracts or agreements on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates
and nor authority to bind the Company or its Affiliates to any obligation
(contractual or otherwise). The Consultant shall devote such of its time, energy
and skill as is reasonably necessary to perform the services described in
Paragraph 1 above.

      5. Indemnity. The Consultant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company
from and against all claims, losses, costs, damages and expenses including,
without limitation, attorneys' fees and costs resulting from or arising in
connection with any negligence or intentional or willful misconduct by the
Consultant in the performance of Consultant's duties under this Agreement.

      6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire understanding
and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all other negotiations, understandings and representations (if any)
made by and between such parties. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, supplemented, waived or changed orally, but only by a writing signed by
the party as to whom enforcement of any such amendment, supplement, waiver or
modification is sought and making specific reference to this Agreement.

      7. Assignment. The Consultant may not assign or delegate its rights and/or
obligations hereunder, provided, however, the Consultant may assign its right to
receive fees or other compensation hereunder the any lender of the Consultant.
The Company may assign its rights hereunder to any of its Affiliates but shall
remain primarily liable hereunder absent a written release executed by the
Consultant.

      8. Severability. If any part of this Agreement or any other agreement
entered into pursuant hereto is contrary to, prohibited by or deemed invalid
under applicable law or regulation, such provision shall be inapplicable and
deemed omitted to the extent so contrary, prohibited or invalid, but the
remainder hereof shall not be invalidated thereby and shall be given full force
and effect so far as possible.

      9. Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (as
elected by the person giving such notice) hand delivered by messenger or courier
service, delivered by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or
mailed by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid), return receipt
requested, addressed to:


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<PAGE>

If to the Consultant:                     If to the Company:

CareMatrix of Massachusetts, Inc.         Chancellor of Merrillville, Inc.
197 First Avenue                          197 First Avenue
Needham, MA  02494                        Needham, MA 02494
Attn:  CEO                                Attn:  President

or to such other address as any party may designate by notice complying with the
terms of this Section. Each such notice shall be deemed delivered (a) on the
date delivered if by personal delivery, or (b) on the date upon which the
receipt is signed or delivery is refused or the notice is designated by the
postal authorities or delivery service as not deliverable, as the case may be,
if delivered by overnight delivery or mailed.

      10. Waivers. The failure or delay of any party at any time to require
performance by another party of any provision of this Agreement, even if known,
shall not affect the right of such party to require performance of that
provision or to exercise any right, power or remedy hereunder, and any waiver by
any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement should not be
construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision,
a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right, power or remedy
under this Agreement. No notice to or demand on any party in any case shall, of
itself, entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar
or other circumstances.

      11. Governing Law. This Agreement and all transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance
with, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to
principles of conflicts of laws.

      12. Definitions: For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the meanings set forth below:

      12.1. "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to a Person, any other Person
            that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
            controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such
            first Person. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "control"
            shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
            direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
            Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
            contract or otherwise.

      12.2. "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited
            liability Company, trust, joint venture or other entity.


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<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first set forth above.

Signed in the                       CHANCELLOR OF MERRILLVILLE, INC.
Presence of:

                                    By: /s/ Abraham D. Gosman
-----------------------------           ----------------------------------------
Print Name:                             Name:
           ------------------           Title:


                                    CAREMATRIX OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Michael J. Zaccaro
-----------------------------           ----------------------------------------
Print Name:                             Name:
           ------------------           Title:


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