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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE="+1"><STRONG>UNITED STATES</STRONG></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="3" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT><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 11, 2003 (December 10, 2003)</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">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><U>        333-41863        </U></TD>
<TD>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><U>   62-1470956   </U></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD COLSPAN="2">
<P 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">
<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<P><STRONG>Item 5.  Other Events</STRONG></P>

<P>		</P>

<P>	On December 10, 2003, National Health Investors, Inc. announced its fourth quarter
common dividend and a special dividend.  A copy of the press release is furnished as an exhibit
to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.</P>

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

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<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>

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<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, 2003</TD>
<TD></TD></TR></TABLE>

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

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<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, 2003.</TD></TR></TABLE>

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

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2">
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="-2"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="-1">For Release: Dec. 10, 2003</FONT></P>

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

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

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="+1"><STRONG>NHI to pay 40 cent  regular dividend and 10 cent special dividend</STRONG></FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="-1"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">	</FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE: NHI and NHIPr) announced
today that it will pay a fourth quarter regular dividend of 40 cents per common share and a special
dividend of 10 cents per common share to shareholders of record on Dec. 30 and payable on Jan. 30.
	The special dividend is necessary to cause dividends for the year to equal estimated taxable
income.</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 and preferred stocks of the company trade on the New York Stock Exchange with
the symbols NHI and NHIPr respectively.  Additional information including NHI's most recent press releases
may be obtained on our web site at www.nhinvestors.com.  </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" COLOR="#0000ff"><U></U></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" COLOR="#0000ff"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">	</FONT><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
judgement as of the date of this release. </EM></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">-30-</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": "031049046"}, "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"}}
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 11, 2003 (December 10, 2003)
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 5.  Other Events
On December 10, 2003, National Health Investors, Inc. announced its fourth quarter
common dividend and a special 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, 2003
Exhibit Index
Number
Exhibit
99
Press release, dated December 10, 2003.
EXHIBIT 99
For Release: Dec. 10, 2003
Contact: Gerald Coggin, VP of Investor Relations
Phone: (615) 890-9100
NHI to pay 40 cent  regular dividend and 10 cent special dividend
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE: NHI and NHIPr) announced
today that it will pay a fourth quarter regular dividend of 40 cents per common share and a special
dividend of 10 cents per common share to shareholders of record on Dec. 30 and payable on Jan. 30.
	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 and preferred stocks of the company trade on the New York Stock Exchange with
the symbols NHI and NHIPr respectively.  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-