Investment in Unconsolidated Ventures (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 Community	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Community	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Community	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Community	Aug. 31, 2014
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures	10.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Assets				$ 128,000	$ 143,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Assets				3,932,000	4,168,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Liabilities				1,153,000	583,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Liabilities				2,215,000	2,294,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue				1,133,000	964,000	$ 439,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Cost of Sales				(779,000)	(679,000)	(293,000)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income (Loss)				(4,000)	(18,000)	(10,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated ventures from cumulative share of net earnings				23,544	7,825	$ 1,840
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment				$ 36,800
Number of communities purchased or sold | Community		7		51		4
Partners Joint Venture Ownership Percentage (in hundredths)							49.00%
Investment in unconsolidated ventures				$ (13,377)	$ (69,297)	$ (26,499)
Equity Method Liability				60,200
CCRC Venture opco [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum Exposure to Loss				50,100
Carrying Amount				50,100
RIDEA Ventures [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum Exposure to Loss				92,100
Carrying Amount				$ 92,100
CCRC Ventures, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures				51.00%
Distributions from unconsolidated ventures from cumulative share of net earnings				$ 221,600
Proceeds from debt financing				$ 434,500
BKD-HCN Venture, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures				20.00%
S-H Forty-Nine Ventures, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures				20.00%
S-H Twenty-One Ventures, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures				10.00%
S-H Thirty-Five Venture, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures				10.00%
Acquisition of Venture Interest [Member]
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Number of communities purchased or sold | Community			35
Aggregate purchase price			$ 847,000
Partners Joint Venture Ownership Percentage (in hundredths)			10.00%
Investment in unconsolidated ventures			$ 30,300
Sale of 10% ownership interest in the HCP 49 Venture [Member]
Schedule of Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures	10.00%
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments	$ 26,800