Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350

(Section 906 of the Sarbanes — Oxley Act of 2002)

In connection with the filing by Senior Housing Properties Trust (the “Company”) of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2009 (the “Report”), each of the undersigned hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge:

1.               The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.               The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.