Exhibit 10.73

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT (the
“Amendment”) is made as of the      day of January, 2009 (the “Effective Date”),
by and between KINDRED HEALTHCARE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and                                  (the “Director”).

WHEREAS, in order to promote effective Board processes consistent with good
corporate governance, the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) has amended and restated the Kindred
Healthcare, Inc. 2001 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors, Amended and
Restated (as amended and restated, the “Plan”) to permit non-employee directors
who are in good standing with the Company to maintain their proprietary
interests in the Company after they retire or otherwise do not stand for
re-election to the Board of Directors.

WHEREAS, the Plan provides for the grant to non-employee directors of
non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company,
par value $.25 per share (the “Common Stock”).

WHEREAS, the Committee previously granted to the Director non-qualified stock
options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Non-Qualified Stock
Option Grant Agreement dated              ,          (the “Grant Agreement”).

WHEREAS, the Company and the Director desire to amend the Grant Agreement
pursuant to the terms of this Amendment.

WHEREAS, the Company and the Director agree that the terms and provisions of the
Grant Agreement shall continue except as specifically amended herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants
and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Company and the Director agree as follows:

1. Amendment to Section 6. As of the Effective Date, Section 6 of the Grant
Agreement shall be revised in its entirety to read as follows:

“6. Expiration Date. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the terms of this
Agreement, the Option shall expire on              ,         . In addition, the
following shall apply to the Option:

(i) if the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a director of the Company for any
reason other than failure to be nominated by the Board of Directors for
re-election, death, Disability, Retirement or removal for Cause, the Option
shall terminate three months after the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a
director of the Company (unless the Non-Employee Director dies during such
period), or on the Option’s expiration date, if earlier, and shall be
exercisable during such three-month period only

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with respect to the number of shares which the Non-Employee Director was
entitled to purchase on the day preceding the day on which the Non-Employee
Director ceased to be a director;

(ii) if the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a director of the Company because
of removal for Cause, the Option shall immediately terminate;

(iii) if the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a director of the Company
because of failure to be nominated by the Board of Directors for re-election,
the Option shall terminate on the Option’s expiration date and shall be
exercisable until the Option’s expiration date only with respect to the number
of shares which the Non-Employee Director was entitled to purchase on the day
preceding the day on which the Non-Employee Director ceased to be a director;
and

(iv) in the event of the Non-Employee Director’s Retirement, Disability or death
while serving as a director of the Company, or the Non-Employee Director’s death
within three months after the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a director
(other than by reason of removal for Cause), the Option shall immediately vest
in full and shall be exercisable until the Option’s expiration date.”

2. Ratification of Grant Agreement. Except as expressly modified by this
Amendment, all other terms and provisions of the Grant Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect, unmodified and unrevoked, and the same are hereby
reaffirmed and ratified by the Director and the Company as if fully set forth
herein.

3. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be duly executed by
its duly authorized officer and said Director has hereunto signed this Amendment
on the Director’s own behalf, thereby representing that the Director has
carefully read and understands this Amendment and the Plan, as of the day and
year first above written.

 

KINDRED HEALTHCARE, INC.

 

By:   Richard A. Lechleiter Title:   Executive Vice President and   Chief
Financial Officer