TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2004--Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN), announced today the appointment of Thomas J. DeRosa as an independent director of the company, effective January 7, 2004. Mr. DeRosa is the Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of The Rouse Company. He will serve on the Audit, Investment, Nominating and Planning Committees of the company.

In connection with the appointment, George L. Chapman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Health Care REIT, Inc. stated, "We are extremely fortunate to find an individual with Tom's qualifications and breadth of experience. He brings to our board his expertise in the real estate and health care industries, as well as his financial acumen and knowledge of the current SEC regulatory environment. Tom's appointment further strengthens our board's independence and depth."

Mr. DeRosa will replace Richard A. Unverferth, who is resigning after 32 years of outstanding service to the company's board. In accepting Mr. Unverferth's resignation Mr. Chapman remarked, "Dick was a founding director of the company and a key contributor to the company's success. He is highly regarded by the Board, as well as the management team for whom he has been a role model and mentor. His presence and good judgment on the Board will be missed. We are grateful for his long-term service to Health Care REIT and wish him the very best."

Prior to joining The Rouse Company in 2002, Mr. DeRosa served as a Global Co-Head of the Health Care Group of Deutsche Bank, in addition to Managing Director in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group of Alex. Brown & Sons.

Mr. DeRosa received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School in New York City. Mr. DeRosa is 45 years old.

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 September 30, 2003, we had investments in 321 health care facilities in 33 states with 47 operators and had total assets of approximately $2.0 billion. For more information on Health Care REIT, Inc., via facsimile at no cost, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter the company code - HCN. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.hcreit.com.

This document may contain "forward-looking" statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements concern the possible expansion of our portfolio; the performance of our operators and properties; our ability to enter into agreements with new viable tenants for properties which we take back from financially troubled tenants, if any; our ability to make distributions; our policies and plans regarding investments, financings and other matters; our tax status as a real estate investment trust; our ability to appropriately balance the use of debt and equity; and our ability to access capital markets or other sources of funds. When we use words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Our expected results may not be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from our expectations. This may be a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the status of the economy; the status of capital markets, including prevailing interest rates; compliance with and changes to regulations and payment policies within the health care industry; changes in financing terms; competition within the health care and senior housing industries; and changes in federal, state and local legislation. Finally, we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

    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.