Exhibit 99.2

                     Beverly Enterprises' 2.75% Convertible
                 Subordinated Notes Now Eligible for Conversion


    FORT SMITH, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2005--Beverly
Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: BEV) - announced today that its 2.75%
Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2033 (the "Notes") are currently
eligible for conversion into BEI's common stock at a conversion rate
of $7.45 per share, equal to a conversion rate of 134.1922 per $1,000
principal amount of Notes.
    Under the indenture governing the Notes, a holder may convert any
of its Notes into BEI common stock during any fiscal quarter if the
sale price of the common stock for at least 20 consecutive trading
days in the 30 trading days ending on the last trading day of the
immediately preceding fiscal quarter exceeds 120% of the conversion
price on that 30th trading day. As of March 31, 2005, the sale price
of BEI's common stock for at least 20 of the 30 preceding consecutive
trading days exceeded 120% of the conversion price of $7.45. As a
result, the Notes are currently convertible through and including June
30, 2005. Whether the Notes will be convertible at any time after June
30, 2005 will depend on the occurrence of events specified in the
indenture, including the sale price of the BEI common stock during the
quarter ending on June 30, 2005 and subsequent quarters.
    To convert interests in a global Note held through the Depository
Trust Company ("DTC"), the holder must deliver to DTC the appropriate
instruction form for conversion pursuant to DTC's conversion program,
and to convert certificated Notes a holder must complete the
conversion notice on the back of the Note and deliver the executed
notice (or facsimile thereof) to the Bank of New York, as Trustee and
Conversion Agent for the Notes. In addition, (1) if Notes are
converted after April 15, 2005 (the record date for the next interest
payment with respect to the Notes) but before May 1, 2005 (the
interest payment date corresponding to the April 15, 2005 record
date), the holder must pay BEI an amount equal to the May 1, 2005
interest payment that will be made on the Notes to be converted; and
(2) if a holder requests that the BEI common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Notes be issued in or delivered to someone other
than the holder, the holder must pay all applicable transfer taxes and
duties, if any (in each case as more fully set forth in the indenture
governing the Notes).
    This press release is only a summary of certain provisions of the
Notes and the indenture governing the Notes. A complete explanation of
the conversion rights of holders of the Notes, as well as the
procedures required to convert Notes, is set forth in the First
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 22, 2003, which was
previously attached as an Exhibit to the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October
23, 2003. All holders are urged to review the conversion provisions
contained in the Notes and the indenture in their entirety.
    The statements in this press release relating to matters that are
not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on
management's beliefs and assumptions using currently available
information and expectations as of the date hereof, are not guarantees
of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties
including the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in
BEI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although
BEI believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, it cannot give any assurances that these
expectations will prove to be correct. BEI assumes no duty to publicly
update or revise such statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
    BEI, through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of
healthcare services to the elderly in the United States. BEI currently
operates 346 skilled nursing facilities, as well as 18 assisted living
centers, and 56 hospice and home care centers. Through Aegis
Therapies, BEI also offers rehabilitative services on a contract basis
to facilities operated by other care providers.



    CONTACT: Beverly Enterprises, Inc., Fort Smith
             Investor Contact:
             James M. Griffith, 479-201-5514
             or
             Media Contact:
             Blair C. Jackson, 479-201-5263