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                                   FORM 10-K/A

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)
   [X]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
                                       OR
   [ ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 1-10858
                     HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                      DELAWARE                            34-1687107
           (State or other jurisdiction of              (IRS Employer
           incorporation or organization)             Identification No.)


              ONE SEAGATE, TOLEDO, OHIO                   43604-2616
      (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

     REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:   (419) 252-5500

     SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
                                                   Name of each exchange
                    Title of each class             on which registered
                    -------------------             -------------------
               COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE       NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

     SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: NONE 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
                                    Yes X  No
                                       ---   ---

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K [ X ]



                           (Cover page 1 of 2 pages)

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Based on the closing price of $46.8125 per share on March 12, 1998, the
aggregate market value of the registrant's voting stock held by non-affiliates
was $2,031,544,533. Solely for purposes of this computation, the registrant's
directors and executive officers have been deemed to be affiliates. Such
treatment is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, an admission
by the registrant or such directors and officers that all of such persons are
"affiliates", as that term is defined under the Securities Act of 1934.

     The number of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of
     Health Care and Retirement Corporation outstanding as of
     March 12, 1998 was 44,829,892.


                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The following document is incorporated herein by reference in the Part
indicated:


     Specific portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual
     Stockholders' Meeting to be held May 5, 1998 are incorporated by reference
     in Part III.


                            (Cover page 2 of 2 pages)


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                                   FORM 10-K/A
                     HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT CORPORATION

Health Care and Retirement Corporation hereby amends its Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 by adding Exhibits 27.1 and
27.2 for the restatement of the financial data schedules for the periods ended
June 30, 1996, September 30, 1996, December 31, 1996, March 31, 1997, June 30,
1997 and September 30, 1997. The financial data schedules are being restated for
the earnings per share line items as HCR changed its method of computing
earnings per share (EPS) as required by Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128 "Earnings Per Share" effective December 31, 1997. EPS amounts
for prior periods have been restated.


ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS
- ------------------

EXHIBITS

S-K Item 601
      No.                                             Document
- ------------
    *27.1          -- Financial Data Schedules that are being restated for the
                   six months ended June 30, 1996, the nine months ended
                   September 30, 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1996.

    *27.2          -- Financial Data Schedules that are being restated for the
                   three months ended March 31, 1997, the six months ended June
                   30, 1997 and the nine months ended September 30, 1997.


* Filed herewith.


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                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                      HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT CORPORATION
                                      (Registrant)

                                       by   /s/ Geoffrey G. Meyers
                                           -----------------------
                                            Geoffrey G. Meyers
                                            Executive Vice President, Chief
                                            Financial Officer and Treasurer

DATE:  March 30, 1998


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


        Exhibit
        Number             Description
        ------             -----------

          27.1      Financial Data Schedules that are being restated for the six
                    months ended June 30, 1996, the nine months ended September
                    30, 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1996.

          27.2      Financial Data Schedules that are being restated for the
                    three months ended March 31, 1997, the six months ended 
                    June 30, 1997 and the nine months ended September 30, 1997.

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