TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2008--Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a dividend for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 of $0.68 per share as compared to the prior year rate of $0.66 per share. The dividend will be the company's 150th consecutive quarterly payment, payable November 20, 2008, to stockholders of record on November 10, 2008.

Health Care REIT, Inc., with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is a real estate investment trust that invests across the full spectrum of senior housing and health care real estate. The company also provides a full array of property management and development services. As of September 30, 2008, the company's broadly diversified portfolio consisted of 641 properties in 39 states. More information is available on the Internet at www.hcreit.com.

    CONTACT: Health Care REIT, Inc.
             Scott Estes, 419-247-2800
             or
             Mike Crabtree, 419-247-2800

    SOURCE: Health Care REIT, Inc.