<PAGE>
 
       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 1997
                                               Registration Statement No. 333-__

================================================================================
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 VENCOR, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                                  61-1055020
    (State or other jurisdiction           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  of  incorporation or organization)

                                        
                            400 WEST MARKET STREET
                          LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY  40202
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                        VENCOR RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
                 (Additional Shares) (Full title of the plan)

                                 JILL L. FORCE
                    Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                 and Secretary
                                 Vencor, Inc.
                            400 West Market Street
                          Louisville, Kentucky  40202
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                (502) 596-7300
                    (Telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                                    ________
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
=======================================================================================================
                                           Proposed             Proposed maximum
Title of securities      Amount to be      maximum offering     aggregate offering     Amount of
to be registered         registered        price per share(1)   price(1)               registration fee
=======================================================================================================
<S>                      <C>               <C>                  <C>                    <C> 
Common Stock, par        1,500,000 shares        $26.00             $39,000,000           $11,818.18
value $0.25 per share
each with .667 of an
associated
participating preferred
stock purchase right
--------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.  This
estimate has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and is based on the average of the high and low prices
per share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on November 17, 1997.

In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be
offered or sold pursuant to the Vencor Retirement Savings Plan described herein.
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
                                    -------


          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
          --------------------------------------------------

     Vencor, Inc. ("Registrant") previously filed a Registration Statement
("Initial Registration Statement") on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 33-38188) covering
200,000 shares of Registrant's Common Stock issuable under the Vencor Retirement
Savings Plan (the "Plan").  This Registration Statement is being filed for the
purpose of registering 1,500,000 additional shares of Registrant's Common Stock
for issuance under the Plan.  Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the
contents of the Initial Registration Statement are incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement except for Items 3, 5, 6 and 8 set forth below.

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
------  ----------------------------------------

        The following documents filed by Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") (File No. 1-10989) are incorporated into
this Registration Statement by reference:

        (a)  Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
             December 31, 1996.

        (b)  The Plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for the year ended 
             December 31, 1996.

        (c)  Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
             March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997, and September 30, 1997.
     
        (d)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 1997.

        (e)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 18, 1997.
 
        (f)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 19, 1997.
 
        (g)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated June 19, 1997.
 
        (h)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 21, 1997.
 
        (i)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21, 1997.
 
        (j)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 22, 1997.
 
        (k)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 23, 1997.
 
        (l)  The description of Registrant's shares of Common Stock, par value
             $.25 per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in the Registration
             Statement filed by the Registrant with the Commission on Form 8-A,
             dated January 22, 1992; the description of the Registrant's
             Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights contained in the
             Registration Statement filed by the Registrant with the Commission
             on Form 8-A dated July 21, 1993, and Form 8-A/A dated August 11,
             1995; and all other amendments and reports filed for the purpose of
             updating such descriptions prior to the termination of the offering
             of the Common Stock and interests offered hereby.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
be a part hereof from the filing date of such documents. Any statement contained
in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein
(or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by
reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof except as
so modified or superseded.

Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
-------  ---------------------------------------

     Members of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC who participated in the
preparation of the Registration Statement beneficially owned approximately 9,900
shares of Registrant's Common Stock as of October 31, 1997.  Greenebaum Doll &
McDonald PLLC, Louisville, Kentucky, has rendered the opinion as to the validity
of the securities being registered hereunder.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
-------  ------------------------------------------

     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("GCL") permits a
Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is, or is threatened to
be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that
such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise.  The indemnity may include expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in the
manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct
was unlawful.  A Delaware corporation may indemnify such persons in actions
brought by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor
under the same conditions except that no indemnification is permitted in respect
of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged to be
liable to the corporation unless and to the extent the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought
determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as
the Court of Chancery or other such court deems proper.  To the extent that a
present or former director or officer has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action referred to above, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify such person
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection therewith.  Corporations, under certain circumstances,
may pay expenses incurred by an officer or director in advance of the final
disposition of an action for which indemnification may be permitted or required.
Indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for or granted pursuant to
Section 145 are not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 145 further provides that a corporation may maintain insurance against
liabilities for which indemnification is not expressly provided by statute.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the GCL, the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, eliminates certain liability of the Company's
directors for breach of their fiduciary duty of care. Article VIII of the
Certificate of Incorporation provides that neither the Company nor its
stockholders may recover monetary damages from the Company's directors for
breach of the duty of care in the performance of their duties as directors of
the Company. Article VIII does not, however, eliminate the liability of the
Company's directors (i) for a breach of the director's duty of loyalty, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the GCL (relating to
unlawful distributions), or (iv) for any improper personal benefit.

     Pursuant to Article IX of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the
Company provides mandatory indemnification of its directors and officers to the
fullest extent authorized by the GCL against all expenses, liabilities and
losses actually and reasonably incurred or suffered in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding to which such officer or director is a party, or is
threatened to be made a party.  Article IX also provides mandatory
indemnification of any person who is made a party, or is threatened to be made a
party, to any action, suit or proceeding because such person was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.  In
connection with the foregoing indemnification, the Company is permitted to
advance expenses incurred by directors or officers in defending a proceeding if
authorized by the Board of Directors and upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of such persons to repay the amounts advanced unless it is ultimately
determined that indemnification is required of the Company.

     The indemnification mandated by Article IX is a contract right which
continues as to persons who cease to be directors or officers of the Company,
their heirs, executors and administrators.  No amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, may increase the liability of
directors or officers for their acts or omissions occurring prior to such
amendment.  The mandatory indemnification provided by Article IX is expressly
non-exclusive of any other rights to which persons seeking indemnification may
be entitled.

     The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person for
whom indemnification is mandated by Article IX or any employee or agent of the
Company, whether or not the Company would have the power or obligation to
indemnify such person under the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or the
GCL.  The Company currently has in effect officers and directors liability
insurance policies.  These policies cover any negligent act, error or omission
of a director or officer, subject to certain exclusions.  The limit of liability
under the policies is $40 million in the aggregate annually for coverage in
excess of deductibles.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
-------  ---------

        The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

        4.1   Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended. Exhibit 3
              to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
              September 30, 1995 (Comm. File No. 1-10989) is hereby incorporated
              by reference.

        4.2   Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. Exhibit 3.2 to
              the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995
              (Comm. File No. 1-10989) is hereby incorporated by reference.

        5     Opinion of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
      23.1  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
 
      23.2  Consent of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC (included in Exhibit 5).
 
      24    Power of Attorney  (Included on signature page of Registration
            Statement on Form S-8).

     In reference to Exhibit 5, the Registrant undertakes that it will submit
the Vencor Retirement Savings Plan, as amended and restated, to the Internal
Revenue Service in order to qualify the Plan under Section 401 of the Internal
Revenue Code.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Louisville, Commonwealth of Kentucky, on November 21,
1997.


                                       VENCOR, INC.

                                       By: /s/ W. Bruce Lunsford
                                           -----------------------
                                           W. Bruce Lunsford
                                           Chairman of the Board,
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                        
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT EACH PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE APPEARS
BELOW CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS W. BRUCE LUNSFORD, W. EARL REED, III AND JILL L.
FORCE, AND EACH OF THEM WITH FULL POWER TO ACT WITHOUT THE OTHER, HIS OR HER
TRUE AND LAWFUL ATTORNEY-IN-FACT AND AGENT, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND
RESUBSTITUTION, FOR HIM OR HER AND IN HIS OR HER NAME, PLACE AND STEAD, IN ANY
AND ALL CAPACITIES, TO SIGN ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS OR POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS
TO THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND TO FILE THE SAME, WITH ALL EXHIBITS THERETO,
AND OTHER DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION AND ANY STATE OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, GRANTING UNTO SAID
ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT AND AGENTS, AND EACH OF THEM, FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO
AND PERFORM EACH AND EVERY ACT AND THING REQUISITE OR NECESSARY TO BE DONE IN
AND ABOUT THE PREMISES, AS FULLY TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS HE OR SHE MIGHT
OR COULD DO IN PERSON, HEREBY RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING ALL THAT EACH SUCH
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT AND AGENT, OR HIS OR HER SUBSTITUTE, MAY LAWFULLY DO OR CAUSE
TO BE DONE BY VIRTUE HEREOF.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in their
capacities and on the date indicated.
 
Name and Signature                  Title                            Date
 
/s/ Michael R. Barr                 Executive Vice President,  November 21, 1997
------------------------------      Chief Operating Officer
Michael R. Barr                     and Director       
                           
 
/s/ Walter F. Beran                 Director                   November 21, 1997
------------------------------
Walter F. Beran


/s/ Ulysses L. Bridgeman, Jr.       Director                   November 21, 1997
------------------------------                                            
Ulysses L. Bridgeman, Jr.


/s/ Elaine L. Chao                  Director                   November 21, 1997
------------------------------                                       
Elaine L. Chao

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
----------------------------     Director
Donna R. Ecton
 
 
/s/ Greg D. Hudson               Director                      November 21, 1997
----------------------------
Greg D. Hudson
 

/s/ Richard A. Lechleiter        Vice President, Finance       November 21, 1997
----------------------------     and Corporate Controller 
Richard A. Lechleiter            (Principal Accounting Officer)          
                              
 
/s/ William H. Lomicka           Director                      November 21, 1997
----------------------------
William H. Lomicka


/s/ W. Bruce Lunsford            Chairman of the Board,        November 21, 1997
----------------------------     President, Chief Executive      
W. Bruce Lunsford                Officer (Principal Executive
                                 Officer) and Director        
     

/s/ W. Earl Reed, III            Executive Vice President,     November 21, 1997
-----------------------------    Chief Financial Officer  
W. Earl Reed, III                (Principal Financial 
                                 Officer) and Director 
     
 
/s/ R. Gene Smith                Vice Chairman of the Board    November 21, 1997
---------------------------      and Director     
R. Gene Smith          


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the persons
charged with administering the Plan have duly caused this Registration Statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of Louisville, Commonwealth of Kentucky, on November 21, 1997.


                             VENCOR RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN


                             By:  /s/ Cecelia A. Hagan
                                  --------------------
                                  Cecelia A. Hagan
                                  Chairperson of the Retirement Committee

                                       7
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 20020}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VENCOR INC", "cik": "0000740260", "assigned-sic": "8060", "irs-number": "611055020", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-40733", "film-number": "97726123"}, "business-address": {"street1": "333 PROVIDAIN CENTER", "street2": "400 WEST MARKET STREET", "city": "LOUISVILLE", "state": "KY", "zip": "40202", "phone": "5025967300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3300 PROVIDIAN CENTER", "street2": "400 WEST MARKET ST", "city": "LOUISVILLE", "state": "KY", "zip": "40202"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 1997
                                               Registration Statement No. 333-__

================================================================================
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 VENCOR, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                                  61-1055020
    (State or other jurisdiction           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  of  incorporation or organization)

                                        
                            400 WEST MARKET STREET
                          LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY  40202
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                        VENCOR RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
                 (Additional Shares) (Full title of the plan)

                                 JILL L. FORCE
                    Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                 and Secretary
                                 Vencor, Inc.
                            400 West Market Street
                          Louisville, Kentucky  40202
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                (502) 596-7300
                    (Telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                                    ________
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=======================================================================================================
                                           Proposed             Proposed maximum
Title of securities      Amount to be      maximum offering     aggregate offering     Amount of
to be registered         registered        price per share(1)   price(1)               registration fee
=======================================================================================================
Common Stock, par        1,500,000 shares        $26.00             $39,000,000           $11,818.18
value $0.25 per share
each with .667 of an
associated
participating preferred
stock purchase right
--------------------
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.  This
estimate has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and is based on the average of the high and low prices
per share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on November 17, 1997.

In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be
offered or sold pursuant to the Vencor Retirement Savings Plan described herein.
PART II
                                    -------

          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
          --------------------------------------------------

     Vencor, Inc. ("Registrant") previously filed a Registration Statement
("Initial Registration Statement") on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 33-38188) covering
200,000 shares of Registrant's Common Stock issuable under the Vencor Retirement
Savings Plan (the "Plan").  This Registration Statement is being filed for the
purpose of registering 1,500,000 additional shares of Registrant's Common Stock
for issuance under the Plan.  Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the
contents of the Initial Registration Statement are incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement except for Items 3, 5, 6 and 8 set forth below.

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
------  ----------------------------------------

        The following documents filed by Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") (File No. 1-10989) are incorporated into
this Registration Statement by reference:

        (a)  Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
             December 31, 1996.

        (b)  The Plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for the year ended 
             December 31, 1996.

        (c)  Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
             March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997, and September 30, 1997.
     
        (d)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 1997.

        (e)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 18, 1997.
 
        (f)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 19, 1997.
 
        (g)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated June 19, 1997.
 
        (h)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 21, 1997.
 
        (i)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21, 1997.
 
        (j)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 22, 1997.
 
        (k)  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 23, 1997.
 
        (l)  The description of Registrant's shares of Common Stock, par value
             $.25 per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in the Registration
             Statement filed by the Registrant with the Commission on Form 8-A,
             dated January 22, 1992; the description of the Registrant's
             Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights contained in the
             Registration Statement filed by the Registrant with the Commission
             on Form 8-A dated July 21, 1993, and Form 8-A/A dated August 11,
             1995; and all other amendments and reports filed for the purpose of
             updating such descriptions prior to the termination of the offering
             of the Common Stock and interests offered hereby.

                                       2
All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
be a part hereof from the filing date of such documents. Any statement contained
in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein
(or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by
reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof except as
so modified or superseded.

Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
-------  ---------------------------------------

     Members of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC who participated in the
preparation of the Registration Statement beneficially owned approximately 9,900
shares of Registrant's Common Stock as of October 31, 1997.  Greenebaum Doll &
McDonald PLLC, Louisville, Kentucky, has rendered the opinion as to the validity
of the securities being registered hereunder.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
-------  ------------------------------------------

     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("GCL") permits a
Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is, or is threatened to
be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that
such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise.  The indemnity may include expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in the
manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct
was unlawful.  A Delaware corporation may indemnify such persons in actions
brought by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor
under the same conditions except that no indemnification is permitted in respect
of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged to be
liable to the corporation unless and to the extent the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought
determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as
the Court of Chancery or other such court deems proper.  To the extent that a
present or former director or officer has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action referred to above, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify such person
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection therewith.  Corporations, under certain circumstances,
may pay expenses incurred by an officer or director in advance of the final
disposition of an action for which indemnification may be permitted or required.
Indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for or granted pursuant to
Section 145 are not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 145 further provides that a corporation may maintain insurance against
liabilities for which indemnification is not expressly provided by statute.

                                       3
Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the GCL, the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, eliminates certain liability of the Company's
directors for breach of their fiduciary duty of care. Article VIII of the
Certificate of Incorporation provides that neither the Company nor its
stockholders may recover monetary damages from the Company's directors for
breach of the duty of care in the performance of their duties as directors of
the Company. Article VIII does not, however, eliminate the liability of the
Company's directors (i) for a breach of the director's duty of loyalty, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the GCL (relating to
unlawful distributions), or (iv) for any improper personal benefit.

     Pursuant to Article IX of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the
Company provides mandatory indemnification of its directors and officers to the
fullest extent authorized by the GCL against all expenses, liabilities and
losses actually and reasonably incurred or suffered in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding to which such officer or director is a party, or is
threatened to be made a party.  Article IX also provides mandatory
indemnification of any person who is made a party, or is threatened to be made a
party, to any action, suit or proceeding because such person was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.  In
connection with the foregoing indemnification, the Company is permitted to
advance expenses incurred by directors or officers in defending a proceeding if
authorized by the Board of Directors and upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of such persons to repay the amounts advanced unless it is ultimately
determined that indemnification is required of the Company.

     The indemnification mandated by Article IX is a contract right which
continues as to persons who cease to be directors or officers of the Company,
their heirs, executors and administrators.  No amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, may increase the liability of
directors or officers for their acts or omissions occurring prior to such
amendment.  The mandatory indemnification provided by Article IX is expressly
non-exclusive of any other rights to which persons seeking indemnification may
be entitled.

     The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person for
whom indemnification is mandated by Article IX or any employee or agent of the
Company, whether or not the Company would have the power or obligation to
indemnify such person under the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or the
GCL.  The Company currently has in effect officers and directors liability
insurance policies.  These policies cover any negligent act, error or omission
of a director or officer, subject to certain exclusions.  The limit of liability
under the policies is $40 million in the aggregate annually for coverage in
excess of deductibles.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
-------  ---------

        The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

        4.1   Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended. Exhibit 3
              to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
              September 30, 1995 (Comm. File No. 1-10989) is hereby incorporated
              by reference.

        4.2   Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. Exhibit 3.2 to
              the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995
              (Comm. File No. 1-10989) is hereby incorporated by reference.

        5     Opinion of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC.

                                       4
23.1  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
 
      23.2  Consent of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC (included in Exhibit 5).
 
      24    Power of Attorney  (Included on signature page of Registration
            Statement on Form S-8).

     In reference to Exhibit 5, the Registrant undertakes that it will submit
the Vencor Retirement Savings Plan, as amended and restated, to the Internal
Revenue Service in order to qualify the Plan under Section 401 of the Internal
Revenue Code.

                                       5
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Louisville, Commonwealth of Kentucky, on November 21,
1997.

                                       VENCOR, INC.

                                       By: /s/ W. Bruce Lunsford
                                           -----------------------
                                           W. Bruce Lunsford
                                           Chairman of the Board,
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                        
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT EACH PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE APPEARS
BELOW CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS W. BRUCE LUNSFORD, W. EARL REED, III AND JILL L.
FORCE, AND EACH OF THEM WITH FULL POWER TO ACT WITHOUT THE OTHER, HIS OR HER
TRUE AND LAWFUL ATTORNEY-IN-FACT AND AGENT, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND
RESUBSTITUTION, FOR HIM OR HER AND IN HIS OR HER NAME, PLACE AND STEAD, IN ANY
AND ALL CAPACITIES, TO SIGN ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS OR POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS
TO THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND TO FILE THE SAME, WITH ALL EXHIBITS THERETO,
AND OTHER DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION AND ANY STATE OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, GRANTING UNTO SAID
ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT AND AGENTS, AND EACH OF THEM, FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO
AND PERFORM EACH AND EVERY ACT AND THING REQUISITE OR NECESSARY TO BE DONE IN
AND ABOUT THE PREMISES, AS FULLY TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS HE OR SHE MIGHT
OR COULD DO IN PERSON, HEREBY RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING ALL THAT EACH SUCH
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT AND AGENT, OR HIS OR HER SUBSTITUTE, MAY LAWFULLY DO OR CAUSE
TO BE DONE BY VIRTUE HEREOF.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in their
capacities and on the date indicated.
 
Name and Signature                  Title                            Date
 
/s/ Michael R. Barr                 Executive Vice President,  November 21, 1997
------------------------------      Chief Operating Officer
Michael R. Barr                     and Director       
                           
 
/s/ Walter F. Beran                 Director                   November 21, 1997
------------------------------
Walter F. Beran

/s/ Ulysses L. Bridgeman, Jr.       Director                   November 21, 1997
------------------------------                                            
Ulysses L. Bridgeman, Jr.

/s/ Elaine L. Chao                  Director                   November 21, 1997
------------------------------                                       
Elaine L. Chao

                                       6
----------------------------     Director
Donna R. Ecton
 
 
/s/ Greg D. Hudson               Director                      November 21, 1997
----------------------------
Greg D. Hudson
 

/s/ Richard A. Lechleiter        Vice President, Finance       November 21, 1997
----------------------------     and Corporate Controller 
Richard A. Lechleiter            (Principal Accounting Officer)          
                              
 
/s/ William H. Lomicka           Director                      November 21, 1997
----------------------------
William H. Lomicka

/s/ W. Bruce Lunsford            Chairman of the Board,        November 21, 1997
----------------------------     President, Chief Executive      
W. Bruce Lunsford                Officer (Principal Executive
                                 Officer) and Director        
     

/s/ W. Earl Reed, III            Executive Vice President,     November 21, 1997
-----------------------------    Chief Financial Officer  
W. Earl Reed, III                (Principal Financial 
                                 Officer) and Director 
     
 
/s/ R. Gene Smith                Vice Chairman of the Board    November 21, 1997
---------------------------      and Director     
R. Gene Smith          

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the persons
charged with administering the Plan have duly caused this Registration Statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of Louisville, Commonwealth of Kentucky, on November 21, 1997.

                             VENCOR RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

                             By:  /s/ Cecelia A. Hagan
                                  --------------------
                                  Cecelia A. Hagan
                                  Chairperson of the Retirement Committee

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