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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE="+1"><STRONG>UNITED STATES</STRONG></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE="+1"><STRONG>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</STRONG></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><STRONG>Washington, D.C.  20549</STRONG></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE="+1"><STRONG>FORM 8-K</STRONG></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 15, 2005 (September 14, 2005)</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><STRONG><FONT SIZE="+1"><U>                    National Health Investors, Inc.                    </U></STRONG></FONT><STRONG></STRONG></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><U>        Maryland      </U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="CENTER"><U>        001-10822        </U></TD>
<TD>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><U>   62-1470956   </U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="CENTER">(Commission File No.)</TD>
<TD>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(IRS Employer</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Identification Number)</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">100 Vine Street, Suite 1202</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><U>Murfreesboro, TN 37130</U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><U>        (615) 890-9100        </U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><U>          Not Applicable          </U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</TD></TR></TABLE>
</P>
<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<P><STRONG>Item 8.01 Other Events.</STRONG></P>

<P>	On September 14,  2005, National Health Investors, Inc. issued a press release
announcing its quarterly dividend.  A copy of the press release is filed an Exhibit 99 to this
Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.</P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURES</P>

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

<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD>National Health Investors, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD>By: <U>/s/ W. Andrew Adams               </U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD>Name: W. Andrew Adams</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD>Title: Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD>By:<U>/s/ Donald K. Daniel                   </U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD>Name:  Donald K. Daniel</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD></TD>
<TD>Title: Principal Accounting Officer</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD>Date: September 15, 2005</TD>
<TD></TD></TR></TABLE>

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Exhibit Index</P>

<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><STRONG>Number</STRONG></TD>
<TD><STRONG>Exhibit</STRONG></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD>99</TD>
<TD>Press release, dated September 14, 2005</TD></TR></TABLE>

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE="-2"></FONT><FONT SIZE="-1">EXHIBIT 99</FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="-1">For Release:  Sept. 14, 2005</FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="-1">Contact:  Gerald Coggin, Senior VP of Corporate Relations</FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="-1">Phone:  (615) 890-9100</FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT><STRONG><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="+2">NHI To Pay 45 Cents Per Share Dividend</STRONG></FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">	MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE:  NHI) announced today that it will
pay a quarterly dividend of 45 cents per common share to shareholders of record on Sept. 30 and payable on Nov.
10.</FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">	NHI specializes in the financing of health care real estate by first mortgage and by purchase and leaseback
transactions.  The common stock of the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbol NHI.
Additional information, including NHI's most recent press releases, may be obtained on our web site at
</FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" COLOR="#0000ff"><U>www.nhinvestors.com</U></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">.  </FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">	<EM>Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements.  NHI cautions
investors that any forward-looking statements made involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future
performance.  All forward-looking statements represent NHI's judgment as of the date of this release.</EM></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">-30-</FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT></P>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NATIONAL HEALTH INVESTORS INC", "cik": "0000877860", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "621470956", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10822", "film-number": "051086125"}, "business-address": {"street1": "100 VINE ST STE 1400", "street2": "CITY CENTER", "city": "MURFREESBORO", "state": "TN", "zip": "37130", "phone": "6158909100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P.O. BOX 1102", "city": "MURFREESBORO", "state": "TN", "zip": "37133-1102"}}
UNITED STATES
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): September 15, 2005 (September 14, 2005)
National Health Investors, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-10822
62-1470956
(Commission File No.)
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
100 Vine Street, Suite 1202
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(615) 890-9100
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On September 14,  2005, National Health Investors, Inc. issued a press release
announcing its quarterly dividend.  A copy of the press release is filed an Exhibit 99 to this
Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
National Health Investors, Inc.
By:
/s/ W. Andrew Adams
Name: W. Andrew Adams
Title: Chief Executive Officer
By:
/s/ Donald K. Daniel
Name:  Donald K. Daniel
Title: Principal Accounting Officer
Date: September 15, 2005
Exhibit Index
Number
Exhibit
99
Press release, dated September 14, 2005
EXHIBIT 99
For Release:  Sept. 14, 2005
Contact:  Gerald Coggin, Senior VP of Corporate Relations
Phone:  (615) 890-9100
NHI To Pay 45 Cents Per Share Dividend
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE:  NHI) announced today that it will
pay a quarterly dividend of 45 cents per common share to shareholders of record on Sept. 30 and payable on Nov.
10.
NHI specializes in the financing of health care real estate by first mortgage and by purchase and leaseback
transactions.  The common stock of the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbol NHI.
Additional information, including NHI's most recent press releases, may be obtained on our web site at
www.nhinvestors.com
.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements.  NHI cautions
investors that any forward-looking statements made involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future
performance.  All forward-looking statements represent NHI's judgment as of the date of this release.
-30-