UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 17, 2012. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST Meeting Information Meeting Type: Annual For holders as of: 2/17/2012 Date: 5/17/2012 Time: 9:30 a.m., local time Location: Senior Housing Properties Trust Two Newton Place 255 Washington Street, Suite 100 Newton, MA 02458 You are receiving this communication because you hold shares in the company named above. This is not a ballot. You cannot use this notice to vote these shares. This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet or by mail. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST TWO NEWTON PLACE 255 WASHINGTON STREET, SUITE 300 NEWTON, MA 02458 M41494-P20324 See the reverse side of this notice to obtain proxy materials and voting instructions.

Before You Vote How to Access the Proxy Materials The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com. How to View Online: Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow (located on the following page) and visit: www.proxyvote.com. If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these documents, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy as instructed below on or before May 3, 2012, to facilitate timely delivery. How to Request and Receive a PAPER or E-MAIL Copy for the 2012 Annual Meeting and for Shareholder Meetings in the Future: 1) BY INTERNET: www.proxyvote.com 2) BY TELEPHONE: 1-800-579-1639 3) BY E-MAIL*: sendmaterial@proxyvote.com * If requesting materials by e-mail, please send a blank e-mail with the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow (located on the following page) in the subject line. . XXXX XXXX XXXX . XXXX XXXX XXXX Requests, instructions and other inquiries sent to this e-mail address will NOT be forwarded to your investment advisor. M41495-P20324 How To Vote Please Choose One of the Following Voting Methods Vote In Person: Shareholders of record of the company as of February 17, 2012, or their duly authorized proxies are entitled to vote in person at the meeting. At the meeting, you will need to request a ballot to vote these shares. To obtain directions for the annual meeting, please call 617-796-8350. Authorize Your Proxy By Internet: To vote now by Internet, go to www.proxyvote.com. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions. Authorize Your Proxy By Mail: You can vote by mail by requesting a paper copy of the materials, which will include a proxy card. . XXXX XXXX XXXX

Voting Items Our Board of Trustees Recommends You Vote “FOR” the Nominees for Trustee in Proposals 1 and 2 and “FOR” Proposals 3, 4 and 5. 1. To elect the nominee named in our proxy statement to our Board of Trustees as the Independent Trustee in Group I. 3. To approve the adoption of the 2012 Senior Housing Properties Trust Equity Compensation Plan. Nominee: Jeffery P. Somers Our Board recommends you vote FOR proposal 3. Our Board recommends you vote FOR proposal 1. 4. To approve a nonbinding advisory resolution on our executive compensation. 2. To elect the nominee named in our proxy statement to our Board of Trustees as the Managing Trustee in Group I. Our Board recommends you vote FOR proposal 4. Nominee: Barry M. Portnoy Our Board recommends you vote FOR proposal 2. 5. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012. Our Board recommends you vote FOR proposal 5. M41496-P20324

M41497-P20324