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                                                                 EXHIBIT 23.1



                CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-8 No. 33-21505, Form S-4 No. 33-13243, Form S-8 No. 33-65242 and Form
S-3 No. 33-50965 and amendments thereto) pertaining to the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, the 1985 Beverly Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, the 1993 Long
Term Incentive Stock Plan, and the Debt Securities of Beverly Enterprises,
Inc., and in the related Prospectuses of our report dated February 4, 1994,
with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of Beverly
Enterprises, Inc. included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 1993.


                                              ERNST & YOUNG

Little Rock, Arkansas
March 17, 1994
