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)      October 6, 2005


                            BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

           Delaware                        1-9550                62-1691861
-------------------------------         -----------           ----------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of         (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
        Incorporation)                  File Number)         Identification No.)


          One Thousand Beverly Way
             Fort Smith, Arkansas                                72919
  ----------------------------------------                     ----------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)


 Registrant's telephone number including area code     (479) 201-2000

     Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|  Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 7.01   Regulation FD Disclosure.

     On  October 6,  2005,  Beverly  Enterprises,  Inc.  ("BEI")  issued a press
release announcing that its 2.75 percent Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2033
(the "Notes")  continue to be eligible for conversion into BEI's common stock at
a conversion rate of 134.1922 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, or $7.45 per
share. A copy of the press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01   Financial Statement, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

      (a)      Exhibits

       Exhibit No.       Exhibit
       -----------       -------
          99.1           Press Release


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                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  October 6, 2005           BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                  By: /s/Pamela H. Daniels
                                      ------------------------
                                  Name:   Pamela H. Daniels
                                  Title:  Senior Vice President, Controller and
                                          Chief Accounting Officer


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

       Exhibit No.       Exhibit
       -----------       -------
          99.1           Press Release


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