FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ESTES SCOTT A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/ [HCN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP and CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) 4500 DORR STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 09/15/2014 (Street) TOLEDO, OH 43615 4. If Amendment, Date 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 (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 09/15/2014   M   1,172 A $ 40.83 89,585 D   Common Stock 09/15/2014   M   1,828 A $ 37 91,413 D   Common Stock 09/15/2014   S(1)   3,000 D $ 63.4492 88,413 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Option (Right to Buy)

$ 40.83

09/15/2014

M

1,172

01/15/2013(2)

01/21/2018

Common

1,172 (2)

$ 0 (3)

0

D

Option (Right to Buy)

$ 37

09/15/2014

M

1,828

01/15/2010(4)

01/29/2019

Common

33,813 (4)

$ 0 (3)

31,985

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ESTES SCOTT A 4500 DORR STREET TOLEDO, OH 43615			EVP and CFO

Signatures

By: Erin C. Ibele Attorney-in-Fact For: Scott A. Estes		09/17/2014
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(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).
(1)	The shares covered by this Form 4 have been sold pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plan dated June 30, 2014.
(2)	Options for the purchase of 18,257 shares of common stock at $40.83 per share were granted to Mr. Estes on January 21, 2008, which grant has previously been reported. The partial exercise of these options for the purchase of 17,085 shares has previously been reported. Of the remaining options,options for the purchase of 1,172 shares vested January 15, 2013.
(3)	The options were granted under the Health Care REIT, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan and had no acquisition price.
(4)	Options for the purchase of 33,813 shares of common stock at $37.00 per share were granted to Mr. Estes on January 29, 2009, which grant has previously been reported. Options for the purchase of 6,763 shares vested on January 15 of each of 2010, 2011 and 2012 and options for the purchase of 6,762 shares vested on January 15 of each of 2013 and 2014.

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