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 that (i) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company
for  the year ended  December 31, 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
                                          Dated: March 12, 2004

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