Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest paid									$ 360,960	$ 226,594	$ 123,036
Income taxes paid									2,952	2,746	2,283
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred									155,230	0	0
Assets Held-for-sale	$ 110,620				$ 0				110,620	0
Trade accounts payable	128,006				76,314				128,006	76,314
Goodwill	725,696				736,805				725,696	736,805
Asset impairment	57,941	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	9,992	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	57,941	9,992	12,891
Acquisition of assets, net of related payables and cash received [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Cash and escrow deposits - restricted									0	0	466
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net									(53,405)	(3,138)	346
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									198,558	80,330	99,657
Other intangible assets, net									(7,294)	(23,978)	3,517
Accrued expenses									0	0	(5,169)
Other liabilities									(315)	(20,568)	0
Long-term debt									(101,558)	7,795	(64,131)
Net									191,216	40,441	34,686
Capital and financing leases [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									26,644	27,100	0
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred									(23,738)	(27,100)	0
Other intangible assets, net									(5,202)	0	0
Other liabilities									2,296	0	0
Net									0	0	0
Formation of CCRC venture with HCP [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Other intangible assets, net									0	(56,829)	0
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									0	(729,123)	0
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred									0	27,085	0
Other assets, net									0	(9,137)	0
Other liabilities									0	1,514	0
Transfer to Investments									0	194,485	0
Long-term debt									0	170,416	0
Refundable entrance fees and deferred revenue									0	413,761	0
Net									0	12,172	0
Formation of HCP 49 Venture [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									0	(525,446)	0
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred									0	538,355	0
Other liabilities									0	(9,034)	0
Transfer to Investments									0	71,656	0
Long-term debt									0	(67,640)	0
Net									0	7,891	0
Master lease amendments [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									0	385,696	0
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred									0	(217,022)	0
Other intangible assets, net									0	(174,012)	0
Other liabilities									0	5,338	0
Net									0	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets, net [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net									25,780	0	0
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									(82,953)	0	0
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred									8,907	0	0
Other liabilities									(960)	0	0
Net									(49,226)	0	0
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									(113,592)	0	0
Assets Held-for-sale	110,620				0				110,620	0	0
Goodwill	(12,200)				0				(12,200)	0	0
Asset impairment									15,172	0	0
Net									0	0	0
Additions to property, plant and equipment and leasehold improvements [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									448,682	304,245	257,527
Trade accounts payable	$ (37,631)				$ 0				(37,631)	0	0
Net									411,051	304,245	257,527
Contribution to CCRC venture with HCP [Member]
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, net									(25,717)	0	0
Transfer to Investments									7,422	0	0
Long-term debt									18,295	0	0
Net									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0