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 September 30, 2003 (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. CHAPMAN
                                             ----------------------------
                                             George L. Chapman,
                                             Chief Executive Officer
                                             Date: October 24, 2003

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.




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