UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 3, 2005 (March 3, 2005)

                         AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


           Tennessee                  01-13031                  62-1674303
--------------------------------    --------------         ---------------------
         (State or Other             (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
         of Jurisdiction             File Number)           Identification No.)
          Incorporation)


        111 Westwood Place, Suite 200
             Brentwood, Tennessee                               37027
-------------------------------------------------             ----------
   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                   (Zip Code)


                                 (615) 221-2250
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              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_|     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act 
        (17 CFR 230.425)

|_|     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
        (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

|_|     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the 
        Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the 
        Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition

     On March 3, 2005,  American  Retirement  Corporation issued a press release
announcing its fourth quarter and full year 2004 earnings results. A copy of the
press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

     Supplemental  information  relating  to American  Retirement  Corporation's
fourth quarter and full year 2004 results is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2.

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure

     On March 3, 2005,  American  Retirement  Corporation issued a press release
announcing its fourth quarter and full year 2004 earnings results. A copy of the
press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

     Supplemental  information  relating  to American  Retirement  Corporation's
fourth quarter and full year 2004 results is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c)  Exhibits.

              99.1         Press Release dated March 3, 2005

              99.2         Supplemental Information



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                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


                                        AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION


                                        By:/s/  Bryan D. Richardson
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Bryan D. Richardson
                                           Executive Vice President and Chief
                                           Financial Officer

Date:  March 3, 2005



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


     Exhibit
     Number                Description
     -------               -----------
        99.1               Press Release dated March 3, 2005

        99.2               Supplemental Information




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