NEWS  RELEASE
FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE                            Contact:  Raymond  Brandstrom
May  1,  2003                                          Chief  Financial  Officer
                                                                  (206) 298-2909

                         EMERITUS ACQUIRES 8 COMMUNITIES

SEATTLE,  WA,  MAY  1,  2003  --  Emeritus Assisted Living (AMEX: ESC) (Emeritus
Corporation),  a  national  provider  of assisted living and related services to
senior  citizens,  announced  it  will  begin leasing 8 communities May 1, 2003.

The  eight communities are purpose-built assisted living facilities in which the
Company  intends  to  offer a mixture of assisted and Alzheimer related services
for seniors.  The lease with Healthcare Realty Trust (NYSE:  HR) is for 10 years
with three five-year extensions.  The communities are located in North Carolina,
Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  In  addition,  Healthcare  Realty Trust has
agreed  to  extend  a  $600,000  loan to the Company, which matures in 10 years.

"These  communities  are  all  located  within  our  existing areas of operation
allowing  us  to  further  expand  our  opportunities with minimal impact to our
overhead,"  stated  Ray  Brandstrom,  CFO.  "We  look  forward  to  our expanded
relationship  with  Healthcare  Realty  Trust."

ABOUT  THE  COMPANY
Emeritus  Assisted  Living is a national provider of assisted living and related
services to seniors.  Emeritus is one of the largest developers and operators of
freestanding  assisted  living  communities throughout the United States.  These
communities  provide  a  residential housing alternative for senior citizens who
need  help  with  the  activities of daily living with an emphasis on assistance
with personal care services to provide residents with an opportunity for support
in  the  aging  process.  Emeritus  currently holds interests in 186 communities
representing  capacity  for  approximately  19,000  residents  in  33  states.
Emeritus's  common  stock  is  traded  on  the American Stock Exchange under the
symbol  ESC, and its home page can be found on the Internet at www.emeritus.com.


"Safe  Harbor"  Statement  under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995:  A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in this press release
that  are  not  historical  or  current  facts  deal  with  the potential future
circumstances,  operations,  and  prospects.  The discussion of such matters and
subject  areas  is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding
future  expectations  generally,  and also may materially differ from Emeritus's
actual  future  experience  as  a  result  of  such  factors  as: the effects of
competition  and  economic  conditions  on  the  occupancy  levels in Emeritus's
communities;  Emeritus's ability under current market conditions to maintain and
increase  its  resident  charges  in  accordance  with rate enhancement programs
without  adversely  affecting occupancy levels; increases in interest rates that
would  increase  costs as a result of variable rate debt; ability of Emeritus to
control  community  operation  expenses,  including insurance and utility costs,
without  adversely  affecting  the  level of occupancy and the level of resident
charges; the ability of Emeritus to generate cash flow sufficient to service its
debt  and  other fixed payment requirements; Emeritus's  ability to find sources
of  financing and capital on satisfactory terms to meet its cash requirements to
the  extent  that  they  are  not  met  by  operations;  and making satisfactory
arrangements  for  the  continued operation of the Emeritrust communities beyond
June  30,  2003,  when  our  management agreements for those communities expire.
Emeritus has attempted to identify, in context, certain of the factors that they
currently  believe may cause actual future experience and results to differ from
Emeritus's  current  expectations regarding the relevant matter or subject area.
These  and  other  risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's reports
filed  with  the  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Emeritus's
Annual  Reports  on  Form  10-K  and  Quarterly  Reports  on  Form  10-Q.