Company Website: http://www.hcreit.com
TOLEDO, Ohio -- (Business Wire)

Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 of $0.74 per share. The dividend will be the company's 164^th consecutive quarterly payment, payable May 21, 2012, to shareholders of record on May 8, 2012.

Health Care REIT, Inc., an S&P 500 company with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is a real estate investment trust that invests across the full spectrum of seniors housing and health care real estate. The company also provides an extensive array of property management and development services. As of December 31, 2011, the company’s broadly diversified portfolio consisted of 937 properties in 46 states. More information is available on the company's website at www.hcreit.com.

Contacts:

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

Source: Health Care REIT, Inc.