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<TITLE>FORM S-8</TITLE>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6, 2009
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-</B><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt; margin-top:6pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>






<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Delaware<BR>
(State or Other Jurisdiction of <BR>
Incorporation or Organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">34-1096634<BR>
(I.R.S. Employer Identification<BR>
Number)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">One SeaGate, Suite&nbsp;1500<BR>
Toledo, Ohio 43604<BR>
Telephone: (419)&nbsp;247-2800<BR>
(Address and Telephone Number of Principal Executive Offices)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN</B><BR>
(Full Title of Plan)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">George L. Chapman
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Copy to:</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman, Chief Executive
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Mary Ellen Pisanelli, Esq.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Officer and President
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Shumaker, Loop &#038; Kendrick, LLP</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Health Care REIT, Inc.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">North Courthouse Square</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">One SeaGate, Suite&nbsp;1500
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">1000 Jackson Street</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Toledo, Ohio 43604
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Toledo, Ohio 43624</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">(419) 247-2800
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">(419) 241-9000</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large accelerated
filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
</DIV>
<TABLE width="100%" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt">
<TR><TD>Large accelerated filer&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT></TD>
<TD align="center">Accelerated filer&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center">Non-accelerated filer&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT><BR>(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
<TD align="right">Smaller reporting company&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR></TABLE>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>PROPOSED MAXIMUM</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>PROPOSED MAXIMUM</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>TITLE OF SECURITIES</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>AMOUNT TO</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>OFFERING PRICE PER</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>AGGREGATE OFFERING</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>AMOUNT OF</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>TO BE REGISTERED</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>

<TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>BE
REGISTERED(1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>SHARE(2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>PRICE(2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>REGISTRATION FEE</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per
share</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">4,000,000 shares</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">40.105</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">160,420,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">8,951</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>This Registration Statement on Form S-8 covers, in addition to the number of shares of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of Health Care REIT, Inc. set forth above, options and other rights to purchase or acquire the shares
of common stock covered by this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, an additional indeterminate number of shares, options and rights that may be
offered or issued pursuant to the Health Care REIT, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan as
a result of one or more adjustments under such plan to prevent dilution resulting from one or more stock splits, stock
dividends or similar transactions.
</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD style="font-size: 3pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and
(h)&nbsp;under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon the average of the high and low
prices for the Registrant&#146;s Common Stock reported on the New
York Stock Exchange on July 30, 2009.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>





<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
<TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
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	<TD width="76%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">PART II</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#002">Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Experts and Counsel.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#003">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#004">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv5.htm">EX-5</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv23w1.htm">EX-23.1</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w1.htm">EX-24.1</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w2.htm">EX-24.2</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w3.htm">EX-24.3</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w4.htm">EX-24.4</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w5.htm">EX-24.5</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w6.htm">EX-24.6</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w7.htm">EX-24.7</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w8.htm">EX-24.8</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w9.htm">EX-24.9</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w10.htm">EX-24.10</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w11.htm">EX-24.11</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l37051aexv24w12.htm">EX-24.12</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The 4,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Health Care REIT, Inc.
(the &#147;Company&#148;) registered under this Registration Statement on Form S-8 consist of additional
shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the terms of the Health Care REIT, Inc. Amended
and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The 2,200,000 shares of common stock previously
reserved for issuance under the 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan were registered under the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No.&nbsp;333-126195) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) on June&nbsp;26, 2005.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No.&nbsp;333-126195) filed by
the Company on June&nbsp;26, 2005 are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement
on Form S-8.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement on Form S-8
consists only of the facing page, the statement in the preceding paragraph incorporating the
contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No.&nbsp;333-126195), responses to
Items 3, 5 and 8 of the Instructions to Form S-8 and the signature page. As permitted by General
Instruction E, responses to Items 4, 6, 7 and 9 of the Instructions to Form S-8 have been omitted.
</DIV>

<!-- link1 "PART II" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), are
incorporated herein by reference; provided, however, that the Company is not incorporating any
documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission
rules:
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">1.</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2008.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">2.</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March&nbsp;31, 2009;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">3.</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended June&nbsp;30, 2009;</TD>
</TR>


<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">4.</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January&nbsp;5, 2009, January&nbsp;29, 2009 (except
that the information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 and 7.01 of Form 8-K and the
exhibits relating to such information are not incorporated into this Registration
Statement), January&nbsp;30, 2009 (except that the information furnished pursuant to Item
7.01 of Form 8-K and the exhibit relating to such information are not incorporated
into this Registration Statement), May&nbsp;7, 2009, May&nbsp;13,
2009 and August 6, 2009.</TD>
</TR>



<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">5.</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of the Company&#146;s common stock as set forth in the registration
statement filed under the Exchange Act on Form 8-A on June&nbsp;17, 1985, including any
amendment or report for the purpose of updating such description.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14,
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
securities offered by this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all such
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be
a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of each such document.

</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->II-1<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">





<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any statement contained herein, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement
contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, as the case may be, modifies or supersedes such document. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Experts and Counsel." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Experts and Counsel.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As
of August 6, 2009, the attorneys of Shumaker, Loop &#038; Kendrick, LLP participating in the
preparation of this Registration Statement and the required legal opinions beneficially held, in
the aggregate, approximately 2,500 shares of our common stock and 1,000 shares of our preferred
stock.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Health Care REIT, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed with the
Commission as Appendix&nbsp;A to the Company&#146;s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders filed March&nbsp;25, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference thereto).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Shumaker, Loop &#038; Kendrick, LLP, as to the legality of the securities being
registered.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">The consent of Shumaker, Loop &#038; Kendrick, LLP, to the use of their opinion as an exhibit to
this Registration Statement is included in their opinion filed herewith as Exhibit&nbsp;5.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by William C. Ballard, Jr. (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Pier C. Borra (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Thomas J. DeRosa (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Jeffrey H. Donahue (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Peter J. Grua (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.6
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Fred S. Klipsch (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.7
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Sharon M. Oster (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.8
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Jeffrey R. Otten (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.9
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by R. Scott Trumbull (Director).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.10
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by George L. Chapman (Director, Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer and President and Principal Executive Officer).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.11
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Scott A. Estes (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer and Principal Financial Officer).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.12
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney executed by Paul D. Nungester, Jr. (Vice President and Controller and
Principal Accounting Officer).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->II-2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized in the City of Toledo, State of Ohio, on August 6, 2009.
</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left"><B>HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/S/ George L. Chapman
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">George L. Chapman&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President<br>
and Director (Principal Executive Officer)&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints George L. Chapman his or her attorney-in-fact with power of substitution for him in any
and all capacities, to sign any amendments, supplements, subsequent registration statements
relating to the offering to which this Registration Statement relates, or other instruments he or
she deems necessary or appropriate, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute may do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed below on August 6, 2009 by the following person in the capacities indicated.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/S/ WILLIAM C. BALLARD, JR.*
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/S/ SHARON M. OSTER*</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">William C. Ballard, Jr., Director
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Sharon M. Oster, Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/S/ PIER C. BORRA*
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/S/ JEFFREY R. OTTEN*</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Pier C. Borra, Director
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Jeffrey R. Otten, Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/S/ THOMAS J. DEROSA*
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/S/ R. SCOTT TRUMBULL*</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Thomas J. DeRosa, Director
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">R. Scott Trumbull, Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/S/ JEFFREY H. DONAHUE*
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/S/ GEORGE L. CHAPMAN</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Jeffrey H. Donahue, Director
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">George L. Chapman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer <br>
and President and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/S/ PETER J. GRUA*
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/S/ SCOTT A. ESTES*</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Peter J. Grua, Director
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Scott A. Estes, Executive Vice President and <br>
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/S/ FRED S. KLIPSCH*
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/S/ PAUL D. NUNGESTER, JR.*</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Fred S. Klipsch, Director
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Paul D. Nungester, Jr., Vice President and Controller<br>
(Principal Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">*By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">                                          /S/ GEORGE L. CHAPMAN
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">George L. Chapman, Attorney-in-Fact&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->II-3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

</BODY>
</HTML>
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FORM S-8
Table of Contents
As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6, 2009
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
34-1096634
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
Number)
One SeaGate, Suite 1500
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Telephone: (419) 247-2800
(Address and Telephone Number of Principal Executive Offices)
HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full Title of Plan)
George L. Chapman
Copy to:
Chairman, Chief Executive
Mary Ellen Pisanelli, Esq.
Officer and President
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Health Care REIT, Inc.
North Courthouse Square
One SeaGate, Suite 1500
1000 Jackson Street
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Toledo, Ohio 43624
(419) 247-2800
(419) 241-9000
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated
filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM
PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES
AMOUNT TO
OFFERING PRICE PER
AGGREGATE OFFERING
AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED
BE
REGISTERED(1)
SHARE(2)
PRICE(2)
REGISTRATION FEE
Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per
share
4,000,000 shares
$
40.105
$
160,420,000
$
8,951
(1)
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 covers, in addition to the number of shares of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of Health Care REIT, Inc. set forth above, options and other rights to purchase or acquire the shares
of common stock covered by this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, an additional indeterminate number of shares, options and rights that may be
offered or issued pursuant to the Health Care REIT, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan as
a result of one or more adjustments under such plan to prevent dilution resulting from one or more stock splits, stock
dividends or similar transactions.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and
(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon the average of the high and low
prices for the Registrant's Common Stock reported on the New
York Stock Exchange on July 30, 2009.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART II
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Item 5. Interests of Experts and Counsel.
Item 8. Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
EX-5
EX-23.1
EX-24.1
EX-24.2
EX-24.3
EX-24.4
EX-24.5
EX-24.6
EX-24.7
EX-24.8
EX-24.9
EX-24.10
EX-24.11
EX-24.12
Table of Contents
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 4,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Health Care REIT, Inc.
(the "Company") registered under this Registration Statement on Form S-8 consist of additional
shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the terms of the Health Care REIT, Inc. Amended
and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The 2,200,000 shares of common stock previously
reserved for issuance under the 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan were registered under the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-126195) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 26, 2005.
The contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-126195) filed by
the Company on June 26, 2005 are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement
on Form S-8.
Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement on Form S-8
consists only of the facing page, the statement in the preceding paragraph incorporating the
contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-126195), responses to
Items 3, 5 and 8 of the Instructions to Form S-8 and the signature page. As permitted by General
Instruction E, responses to Items 4, 6, 7 and 9 of the Instructions to Form S-8 have been omitted.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated herein by reference; provided, however, that the Company is not incorporating any
documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission
rules:
1.
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
2.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009;
3.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended June 30, 2009;
4.
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2009, January 29, 2009 (except
that the information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 and 7.01 of Form 8-K and the
exhibits relating to such information are not incorporated into this Registration
Statement), January 30, 2009 (except that the information furnished pursuant to Item
7.01 of Form 8-K and the exhibit relating to such information are not incorporated
into this Registration Statement), May 7, 2009, May 13,
2009 and August 6, 2009.
5.
The description of the Company's common stock as set forth in the registration
statement filed under the Exchange Act on Form 8-A on June 17, 1985, including any
amendment or report for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14,
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
securities offered by this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all such
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be
a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of each such document.
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Any statement contained herein, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement
contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, as the case may be, modifies or supersedes such document. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 5. Interests of Experts and Counsel.
As
of August 6, 2009, the attorneys of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP participating in the
preparation of this Registration Statement and the required legal opinions beneficially held, in
the aggregate, approximately 2,500 shares of our common stock and 1,000 shares of our preferred
stock.
Item 8. Exhibits.
4.1
Health Care REIT, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed with the
Commission as Appendix A to the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders filed March 25, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
5
Opinion of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, as to the legality of the securities being
registered.
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
23.2
The consent of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, to the use of their opinion as an exhibit to
this Registration Statement is included in their opinion filed herewith as Exhibit 5.
24.1
Power of Attorney executed by William C. Ballard, Jr. (Director).
24.2
Power of Attorney executed by Pier C. Borra (Director).
24.3
Power of Attorney executed by Thomas J. DeRosa (Director).
24.4
Power of Attorney executed by Jeffrey H. Donahue (Director).
24.5
Power of Attorney executed by Peter J. Grua (Director).
24.6
Power of Attorney executed by Fred S. Klipsch (Director).
24.7
Power of Attorney executed by Sharon M. Oster (Director).
24.8
Power of Attorney executed by Jeffrey R. Otten (Director).
24.9
Power of Attorney executed by R. Scott Trumbull (Director).
24.10
Power of Attorney executed by George L. Chapman (Director, Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer and President and Principal Executive Officer).
24.11
Power of Attorney executed by Scott A. Estes (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer and Principal Financial Officer).
24.12
Power of Attorney executed by Paul D. Nungester, Jr. (Vice President and Controller and
Principal Accounting Officer).
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized in the City of Toledo, State of Ohio, on August 6, 2009.
HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.
By:
/S/ George L. Chapman
George L. Chapman
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints George L. Chapman his or her attorney-in-fact with power of substitution for him in any
and all capacities, to sign any amendments, supplements, subsequent registration statements
relating to the offering to which this Registration Statement relates, or other instruments he or
she deems necessary or appropriate, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute may do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed below on August 6, 2009 by the following person in the capacities indicated.
/S/ WILLIAM C. BALLARD, JR.*
/S/ SHARON M. OSTER*
William C. Ballard, Jr., Director
Sharon M. Oster, Director
/S/ PIER C. BORRA*
/S/ JEFFREY R. OTTEN*
Pier C. Borra, Director
Jeffrey R. Otten, Director
/S/ THOMAS J. DEROSA*
/S/ R. SCOTT TRUMBULL*
Thomas J. DeRosa, Director
R. Scott Trumbull, Director
/S/ JEFFREY H. DONAHUE*
/S/ GEORGE L. CHAPMAN
Jeffrey H. Donahue, Director
George L. Chapman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)
/S/ PETER J. GRUA*
/S/ SCOTT A. ESTES*
Peter J. Grua, Director
Scott A. Estes, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
/S/ FRED S. KLIPSCH*
/S/ PAUL D. NUNGESTER, JR.*
Fred S. Klipsch, Director
Paul D. Nungester, Jr., Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
*By:
/S/ GEORGE L. CHAPMAN
George L. Chapman, Attorney-in-Fact
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