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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): December 10, 2004 (December 10, 2004)</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>        333-41863        </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 December 10, 2004, National Health Investors, Inc. announced its fourth quarter
dividend.  A copy of the press release is furnished as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is
incorporated herein by reference.</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: December 10, 2004</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 December 10, 2004</TD></TR></TABLE>

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

<P><FONT SIZE="-1">For Release: Dec. 10, 2004</FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE="-1">Contact: Gerald Coggin, VP of Corporate Relations</FONT></P>

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

<P><FONT SIZE="+1"><STRONG>NHI to Pay 42.5 Cent Regular Dividend and a 15 Cent Special Dividend </STRONG></FONT></P>

<P>	MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE: NHI ) announced today that it will
pay a  fourth quarter regular dividend of 42.5 cents per common share and a special dividend of 15 cents per
common share to shareholders of record on Dec. 31 and payable on Jan. 10, 2005.  </P>

<P>	The special dividend is necessary to cause dividends for the year to equal estimated taxable income.</P>

<P>	NHI specializes in the financing of health care real estate by first mortgage and by purchase and leaseback
transactions. The common stock of National Health Investors 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 COLOR="#0000ff"><U>www.nhinvestors.com</U></FONT>.</P>

<P>	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 judgement as of the date of this release. </P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Palatino">-30-</FONT></P>

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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): December 10, 2004 (December 10, 2004)
National Health Investors, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
333-41863
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 December 10, 2004, National Health Investors, Inc. announced its fourth quarter
dividend.  A copy of the press release is furnished as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is
incorporated herein by reference.
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: December 10, 2004
Exhibit Index
Number
Exhibit
99
Press release, dated December 10, 2004
EXHIBIT 99
For Release: Dec. 10, 2004
Contact: Gerald Coggin, VP of Corporate Relations
Phone: (615) 890-9100
NHI to Pay 42.5 Cent Regular Dividend and a 15 Cent Special Dividend
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE: NHI ) announced today that it will
pay a  fourth quarter regular dividend of 42.5 cents per common share and a special dividend of 15 cents per
common share to shareholders of record on Dec. 31 and payable on Jan. 10, 2005.
The special dividend is necessary to cause dividends for the year to equal estimated taxable income.
NHI specializes in the financing of health care real estate by first mortgage and by purchase and leaseback
transactions. The common stock of National Health Investors 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 judgement as of the date of this release.
-30-