<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 1,600 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 143,016 <ALLOWANCES> 14,099 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 157,595 <PP&E> 668,181 <DEPRECIATION> 121,467 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 900,570 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 139,595 <BONDS> 262,367 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 489 <OTHER-SE> 412,703 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 900,570 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 434,268 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 344,923 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 17,855 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,522 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 48,403 <INCOME-TAX> 14,860 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 33,543 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 33,543 <EPS-PRIMARY> .72 <EPS-DILUTED> .72