FORM 5 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Form 3 Holdings Reported Form 4 Transactions Reported

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES 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 * Stapley Gregory K. 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ENSIGN GROUP, INC [ENSG] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) V.P. and General Counsel (Last) (First) (Middle) 27101 PUERTA REAL, SUITE 450 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year) 12/31/2008 (Street) MISSION VIEJO, CA 92691 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting (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 (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/31/2008   G 3,500 D $ 0 1,059,800 I By Stapley Family Trust Dated April 25, 2006 (1) Common Stock 11/03/2008   G 5,000 D $ 0 1,054,800 I By Stapley Family Trust Dated April 25, 2006 (1) Common Stock 12/24/2008   J(2) 3,671 D $ 0 45,500 I By the Marian K. Stapley Revocable Trust Dated April 29, 1965 (3) Common Stock             18,000 I By wife as UTMA custodian for their minor children

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

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SEC 2270 (9-02)

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 (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

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 (Month/Day/Year)

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 at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Stapley Gregory K. 27101 PUERTA REAL, SUITE 450 MISSION VIEJO, CA 92691	Â	Â	  V.P. and General Counsel	Â

Signatures

Daniel H. Walker, as attorney-in-fact		02/17/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	These shares are directly owned by the Stapley Family Trust dated April 25, 2006 and indirectly by Gregory K. Stapley as Trustee of the trust. Gregory K. Stapley is an officer of the issuer.
(2)	This transaction consisted of a distribution of 3,671 shares by the Marian K. Stapley Revocable Trust dated April 29, 1965 to its beneficiary, Marian K. Stapley. The reporting person is the trustee of the trust. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(3)	These shares are directly owned by the Marian K. Stapley Revocable Trust dated April 29, 1965 and indirectly by Gregory K. Stapley as Trustee of the trust. Gregory K. Stapley is an officer of the issuer. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

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