SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  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):  OCTOBER 15, 2003

                              EMERITUS CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

           WASHINGTON               1-14012              91-1605464
    (State or other jurisdiction  (Commission         (IRS Employer
          of incorporation)       File Number)     Identification No.)


                              Raymond R. Brandstrom
        Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary
                              Emeritus Corporation
                         3131 Elliott Avenue, Suite 500
                            Seattle, Washington 98121
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (206) 298-2909
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

<PAGE>

ITEM  5.  OTHER  EVENTS  AND  REQUIRED  FD  DISCLOSURE

Emeritus  issued  a  press  release  on  October  15, 2003, which is attached as
exhibit  99.1  hereto.

ITEM  7.  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND  EXHIBITS

(c)     Exhibits:
          99.1     Emeritus  Press  release  announcing  Update  To  Alterra
                   Transaction dated  October  15,  2003.



                                        2
<PAGE>
                                    SIGNATURE

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

                                               By:  /s/  Raymond  R.  Brandstrom
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Raymond  R.  Brandstrom
                                                    Vice President of Finance,
                                                    Chief Financial Officer,
                                                    and Secretary


Dated:  October  16,  2003

                                        3
<PAGE>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "EMERITUS CORP\\WA\\", "cik": "0001001604", "assigned-sic": "8050", "irs-number": "911605464", "state-of-incorporation": "WA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-14012", "film-number": "03942679"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3131 ELLIOTT AVENUE", "street2": "SUITE 500", "city": "SEATTLE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98121", "phone": "2062982909"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3131 ELLIOTT AVE STE 500", "city": "SEATTLE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98121"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  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):  OCTOBER 15, 2003

                              EMERITUS CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

           WASHINGTON               1-14012              91-1605464
    (State or other jurisdiction  (Commission         (IRS Employer
          of incorporation)       File Number)     Identification No.)

                              Raymond R. Brandstrom
        Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary
                              Emeritus Corporation
                         3131 Elliott Avenue, Suite 500
                            Seattle, Washington 98121
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (206) 298-2909
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
ITEM  5.  OTHER  EVENTS  AND  REQUIRED  FD  DISCLOSURE

Emeritus  issued  a  press  release  on  October  15, 2003, which is attached as
exhibit  99.1  hereto.

ITEM  7.  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND  EXHIBITS

(c)     Exhibits:
          99.1     Emeritus  Press  release  announcing  Update  To  Alterra
                   Transaction dated  October  15,  2003.

                                        2
SIGNATURE

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

                                               By:  /s/  Raymond  R.  Brandstrom
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Raymond  R.  Brandstrom
                                                    Vice President of Finance,
                                                    Chief Financial Officer,
                                                    and Secretary

Dated:  October  16,  2003

                                        3