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                                                             Exhibit 99.6

                            [HEALTH CARE REIT LOGO]


F O R    I M M E D I A T E    R E L E A S E

                                  PRESS RELEASE

                                               January 21, 1997
                                               For more information contact:
                                               Erin Ibele      (419) 247-2800
                                               Ed Lange        (419) 247-2800

                             HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.
                             NAMES RAYMOND W. BRAUN
                             CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Toledo, Ohio, January 21, 1997....HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. (NYSE/HCN) announced
today that Raymond W. Braun, vice president of the company, has been appointed
chief operating officer of the company.

Braun, 39, joined the company in 1993 as vice president and assistant general
counsel. Prior to his positions with the company, Braun was a partner with the
law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, Toledo, Ohio. Braun earned a Bachelor of
Science degree from Bowling Green State University in 1980, and a law degree
from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1983.

George L. Chapman, chairman and chief executive officer of the company, stated,
"the company is pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Braun to the position
of chief operating officer in recognition of his outstanding performance as a
member of the management team. I am confident of Ray's continuing superior
leadership of the company's marketing, underwriting, and monitoring activities."

Health Care REIT, Inc., with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is a real estate
investment trust which invests in health care facilities, primarily nursing
homes, assisted living facilities and retirement centers. At December 31, 1996,
the company had investments in 137 health care facilities in 28 states and had
total assets of approximately $520 million.