FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT OF MARK L. DESMOND

                                                                EXHIBIT 10.12(a)

                              FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT OF XXXX X. XXXXXXX


     This First Amendment dated as of January 19, 2001 to Employment Agreement
of Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx hereby amends that certain Employment Agreement entered into
by and between Nationwide Health Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Company") and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx (the "Executive") as of February 25, 1998 (the
"Employment Agreement").

                                    RECITAL

     The parties desire to delete and restate Paragraph I - E of the Employment
Agreement in its entirety.

                                   AGREEMENT

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree to delete Paragraph I - E
of the Employment Agreement in its entirety and restate it as follows:

          E.  "Employment Period" shall mean the period commencing on the
              Effective Date and ending on February 28, 2002.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has hereunto set Executive's hand, and
pursuant to the authorization from the Compensation Committee of the Board, the
Company has caused this First Amendment to Employment Agreement of Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx to be executed in its name on its behalf, all of the day and year first
above written.

                                           NATIONWIDE HEALTH PROPERTIES, INC.


                                           By:__________________________________
                                                 R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, President


                                           Executive:


                                           By:__________________________________
                                                 Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx