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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

                 We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-        ) and related
Prospectus of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. for the registration of $200,000,000 of
its Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock and Warrants and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated February 2, 1996, except
for Note 4, paragraph 5 and Note 5, paragraph 5, as to which the date is March
21, 1996, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of
Beverly  Enterprises, Inc., included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the
year ended December 31, 1995, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.


                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP





May 8, 1996
Little Rock, Arkansas
