Sec Form 4 Filing - DENBESTEN KENNETH D @ NATIONAL HEALTH INVESTORS INC - 2008-04-23

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person DENBESTEN KENNETH D 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NATIONAL HEALTH INVESTORS INC [ NHI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior VP, Finance/Secretary (Last) (First) (Middle) 1610 WEXFORD DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 04/23/2008 (Street) MURFREESBORO, TN37129 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock (Restricted Stock Award) 04/23/2008 M 4,771 A $ 26.1 129,528 I Family Partnership Common Stock IRA (DRIP) 5,746 D Common Stock in minor child's name 2,918 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Option to Purchase Stock - Right to Buy $ 29.24 02/04/2009 02/04/2013 Common Stock 29,000 29,000 I Family Partnership Option to Purchase Stock - Right to Buy $ 26.1 04/23/2008 M 33,333 03/09/2007 03/09/2016 Common Stock 50,000 $ 26.1 16,667 I Family Partnership

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other DENBESTEN KENNETH D 1610 WEXFORD DRIVE MURFREESBORO, TN37129 Senior VP, Finance/Secretary Signatures /s/Kenneth D. DenBesten 04/23/2008 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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