Welltower (WELL) 10-Q 2010 Q2 Quarterly report

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

          I, George L. Chapman, the Chief Executive Officer of Health Care REIT, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350), that (i) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ GEORGE L. CHAPMANGeorge L. Chapman,

Chief Executive Officer

Date: August 6, 2010

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.