SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0104
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

DEROSA THOMAS J

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.

ONE SEAGATE, SUITE 1500

(Street)

TOLEDO

43604

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/07/2004

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/ [ HCN ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)

5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	600	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Option (Right to Buy)	01/07/2005⁽¹⁾	01/07/2014	Common	3,334⁽¹⁾	$36.13	D
Option (RIght to Buy)	01/07/2006⁽¹⁾	01/07/2014	Common	3,333⁽¹⁾	$36.13	D
Option (Right to Buy)	01/07/2007⁽¹⁾	01/07/2014	Common	3,333⁽¹⁾	$36.13	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Options for the purchase of 10,000 shares of common stock at $36.13 per share were granted to Mr. DeRosa on January 7, 2004. Options for the purchase of 3,334 shares will vest on January 7, 2005 and options for the purchase of 3,333 shares will vest on January 7 of each 2006 and 2007.

Remarks:

	By: Erin C. Ibele Attorney-in-Fact For: Thomas J. DeRosa	01/09/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.