8-K

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 13, 2006 (December 13, 2006)
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 December 13, 2006, National Health Investors, Inc. issued a press release announcing its fourth quarter 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
Date: December 13, 2006

Exhibit Index

Number	Exhibit
99	Press release, dated December 13, 2006

EX-99

For Release: December 13, 2006

Contact: Kenneth D. DenBesten, Sr. VP of Finance

Phone: (615) 890-9100

NHI to pay 48 cent regular dividend and 45 cent special dividend

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE: NHI ) a real estate investment trust, announced today that it will pay a fourth quarter regular dividend of 48 cents per common share and a special dividend of 45 cents per common share to shareholders of record on December 28 and payable on January 31, 2007.  

A special dividend is required as a result of one-time taxable income totaling $14,441,000 related to prepaid loans and assets on which purchase options were exercised.

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.

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