TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2005--Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a dividend for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 of $0.60 per share.

The dividend represents the 135th consecutive dividend payment. The dividend will be payable February 22, 2005, to stockholders of record on January 31, 2005.

Health Care REIT, Inc., with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is a real estate investment trust that invests in health care facilities, primarily skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. At December 31, 2004, the company had investments in 394 health care facilities in 35 states with 50 operators. The portfolio included 234 assisted living facilities, 152 skilled nursing facilities and eight specialty care hospitals. More information is available on the Internet at www.hcreit.com.

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

SOURCE: Health Care REIT, Inc.